Memorial Pool to open this weekend
Official ribbon cutting to be held on June 2
Photo by ALLISON WOOD The zero-depth entry will allow small children to play in the water.
MEDINA – The pool has been filled with water and a few finishing touches are all that is left to complete at the renovated Memorial Pool, set to open May 27 in time for Memorial Day Weekend.
The pool’s concrete deck was repoured, the bathhouse reconstructed and renovated and the pool’s fenced-in area was extended to give customers more room to roam around. The pool has been closed since the end of the 2012 season due to deterioration.
On May 19, parks employees were painting areas of the bathhouse and putting chemicals into the pool while contractors were busy paving the park’s lot.
“We get a lot of people coming up to the fences and looking through,” said Kurt Gehring, Medina Community Recreation Center supervisor. “There is a lot of curiosity.”
Two things customers will notice right away is that there is a zero-depth entry with a ramp on one side and that the pool’s deepest point is only 5 1/2 feet, which is where two water slides are located. There is also a mushroom fountain for those wanting to get wet without venturing too far.
“This will appeal to some of our younger clients,” Gehring said of the zero-depth entry and fountain.
He added it is a trend for new pools to be shallower unless they are being used for diving or competitions, like at the rec center.
Previously, the shallow end of the pool was around 3 feet and the deep end was around 9 feet and included a diving board.
Two canopies were also installed for those interested in getting some shade; use of these can also be rented out for parties.
The pool will be operated by the Medina Community Recreation Center, where staff already manage two indoor pools at that facility.
Gehring said the bathhouse was also renovated, including new floors, plumbing fixtures, construction of a new concession stand area, renovating the changing areas for men and women with new benches and hot-water showers, along with installing a small family changing area with restroom.
Customers are allowed to bring food and drinks into the pool as long as there is no glass or alcohol, Gehring said, and picnic tables will also be available. Snacks and drinks will also be sold at the concession stand.
Children ages 11 and older are allowed to come to the pool without an adult. They, along with any adults, will need to present a photo ID, which includes a driver’s license, student ID or rec center ID, in order to enter the pool, Gehring said.
Funding for the project was approved by city council last summer after much debate. The pool’s construction budget was around $800,000, with parks department employees doing some of the work in-house to save money, said Jansen Wehrley, parks director, whose department was overseeing the project. Construction began in late fall and continued through the winter.
An official ribbon cutting will be held Friday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m. Free hot dogs and chips will be served and the first 100 guests will get free admission.
Pool hours will be every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daily rates for individuals ages 3-59 will be $7; seniors 60-plus will be $4; national school lunch program daily rate (a letter will need to be on file with the pool) will be $4; daily group rate per person will be $4; babies 2 and under are free. A punch card with five entries for $25 are also being sold. Season passes can be purchased for $200 for a family of up to five people and $100 for individuals.
More information can be found on Facebook at Medina Memorial Pool.
The pool is located on East Homestead Street.
The pool’s concrete deck was repoured, the bathhouse reconstructed and renovated and the pool’s fenced-in area was extended to give customers more room to roam around. The pool has been closed since the end of the 2012 season due to deterioration.
On May 19, parks employees were painting areas of the bathhouse and putting chemicals into the pool while contractors were busy paving the park’s lot.
“We get a lot of people coming up to the fences and looking through,” said Kurt Gehring, Medina Community Recreation Center supervisor. “There is a lot of curiosity.”
Two things customers will notice right away is that there is a zero-depth entry with a ramp on one side and that the pool’s deepest point is only 5 1/2 feet, which is where two water slides are located. There is also a mushroom fountain for those wanting to get wet without venturing too far.
“This will appeal to some of our younger clients,” Gehring said of the zero-depth entry and fountain.
He added it is a trend for new pools to be shallower unless they are being used for diving or competitions, like at the rec center.
Previously, the shallow end of the pool was around 3 feet and the deep end was around 9 feet and included a diving board.
Two canopies were also installed for those interested in getting some shade; use of these can also be rented out for parties.
The pool will be operated by the Medina Community Recreation Center, where staff already manage two indoor pools at that facility.
Gehring said the bathhouse was also renovated, including new floors, plumbing fixtures, construction of a new concession stand area, renovating the changing areas for men and women with new benches and hot-water showers, along with installing a small family changing area with restroom.
Customers are allowed to bring food and drinks into the pool as long as there is no glass or alcohol, Gehring said, and picnic tables will also be available. Snacks and drinks will also be sold at the concession stand.
Children ages 11 and older are allowed to come to the pool without an adult. They, along with any adults, will need to present a photo ID, which includes a driver’s license, student ID or rec center ID, in order to enter the pool, Gehring said.
Funding for the project was approved by city council last summer after much debate. The pool’s construction budget was around $800,000, with parks department employees doing some of the work in-house to save money, said Jansen Wehrley, parks director, whose department was overseeing the project. Construction began in late fall and continued through the winter.
An official ribbon cutting will be held Friday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m. Free hot dogs and chips will be served and the first 100 guests will get free admission.
Pool hours will be every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daily rates for individuals ages 3-59 will be $7; seniors 60-plus will be $4; national school lunch program daily rate (a letter will need to be on file with the pool) will be $4; daily group rate per person will be $4; babies 2 and under are free. A punch card with five entries for $25 are also being sold. Season passes can be purchased for $200 for a family of up to five people and $100 for individuals.
More information can be found on Facebook at Medina Memorial Pool.
The pool is located on East Homestead Street.