The first full renovation of the bathrooms and changing room area in decades is underway with these essential spaces getting new toilets, sinks, fixtures, new flooring and other amenities in addition to paint.
Lowry said these renovations are possible because of the funding and budgeting of the New Carlisle City Council.
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Lifeguards have been training, and getting certification in addition to perfecting their water skills on swim teams at Tecumseh, Northwestern, and Shawnee high schools.
If all goes smoothly, everything should be ready for the pool opening on May 25.
Meanwhile, Sign Up Day for the Mighty Duck Swim Team is next Wednesday May 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the pool.
Swim team is available for youth ages eight through 18 years. Practices start on May 28 and are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at 10 a.m. with swim meets scheduled for Wednesday evenings. According to Lowry, the Friday practice is generally a fun day. Swim season is over in the middle of July.
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Now swim teams hold a special place in my heart. All of our children were on swim teams and I believe the benefits were well worth all my car pooling efforts. All of our girls went on to swim for high school teams, and worked throughout college as lifeguards, sometimes even on campus. It looked great on resumes. Two went on to be nurses and the other one surfs.
People who cannot decide on participation in the swim team or want to see how a swim team works before signing up have a great opportunity to check out the team at the Swim Team Stroke Clinic during the week of May 19-23.
I would recommend a swim stroke clinic to someone unfamiliar with swim teams. At least one session would be important. Once you learn the terminology and get an idea of the skills it is easy to follow and fun.
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According to Swim Coach Hannah Peck, this clinic is an “opportunity for swimmers who have never competed on a swim team to give it a try or for current swimmers who want to improve their stroke technique and basic endurance.”
The cost for each stroke session is $10 for a member and $15 for a non-member. Every participant in the clinic “must be able to swim the length of the pool once unassisted.”
The Swim Team Stroke Clinic will be held each night that week from 6 - 7 p.m. Each night will focus on a different swim stroke. Sunday evening May 19 will be freestyle, Monday will be breast-stroke, Tuesday will be back-stroke, and Wednesday will be butterfly. There will be a special clinic focusing on starts and turns from 7 - 8 p.m. May 23.
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Swim team costs are $25 per athlete for the first child in a family and $15 each for additional sibling. Swimmers can participate in up to three events and one relay at a meet.
Pool membership is required to sign up for the swim team. Individual membership for a kid is $100 if no one else in the family wants to swim. Family membership is $225 which is a bargain for a family of more than two. Since an adult single membership is $125, the family membership is the same as membership for a single parent and a child.
In my opinion, compared to taking a bunch of kids to a movie, pool membership is a bargain since it lasts more than two months and not just one evening.
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Swim lessons will also be offered at the pool at convenient times. Morning lessons begin at 9 a.m. on Monday and Thursday. Evening lessons begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Members only pay $35 for the lesson session and non-members pay $70.
Right now lessons begin for kids at age 3 or 4 years, but if there is enough interest, Mommy and Me infant swimming lessons might be scheduled, according to Lowry.
Special swimming activities are being planned at the pool all summer. Of course the Cannon Ball Contest will return and they have already scheduled Fireworks watching in the pool for June 29. Currently movies are being selected for adult and family movie nights.
If you are on Facebook, check out the New Carlisle Pool page. They are quick to answer messages. If you are not online, call 937-845-8116 for information.
New Carlisle and western Clark County in general is fortunate to still have a city pool nearby. It can be a blessing in hot weather, it can keep our young folks healthy and active all summer long and swimming is a great life skill for all ages.
Don’t forget the New Carlisle Pool as you plan your summer fun.
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