Area pools preparing for summer

After either adjusting to pandemic-spurred restrictions or being closed entirely, the staff of several area swimming pools are preparing for their first post-COVID season.

Many of the pools are slated to reopen at some time during Memorial Day weekend, but the staff of all have been preparing for some time for what may be a higher level of patronage than in the past.

Brooke Hills Park Manager Janice McFadden said if shelter rentals are any indication, the park's swimming pool will be well attended.

"Shelter rentals are booming. We've booked more than we've had in each of the last 10 years. I think people are eager to get out because they've been cooped up at home," said McFadden.

Sam Morris, superintendent of Tomlinson Run State Park in New Cumberland, agreed, saying, "Our camping has been very busy this year. I think we're going to have a busy summer."

Steubenville Parks and Recreation Director Lori Fetherolf said the pool at Belleview Park provides an invaluable recreational opportunity for many local families on tight budgets.

Fetherolf said since local COVID-19 cases have diminished, "I knew we had to re-open. I feel it's our mission to be here for the kids."

"I think people are really excited for the pool this year," said Toronto Recreation Director Rod Henry, who added pool parties have been booked for many weekends this summer.

Coty Shingle, Weirton city parks executive director -- who oversees Starvaggi Memorial Park -- said, "We're very excited about the summer season. We think we'll have a successful one and will be able to provide a somewhat normal experience."

Shingle was among park officials who said while mask requirements for outdoor facilities are being lifted, patrons can expect to see staff disinfecting many areas as a precaution.

McFadden said because Brooke Hills Park was open last year, an aerosol misting device was purchased to sanitize many areas of the park and will remain in use this year.

Mingo Junction Councilman Jack Brettell, who chairs council's recreation committee, said village staff have been diligent in cleaning its facilities and will do the same when the pool at Aracoma Park reopens this year.

"Our service department has been wonderful. They will be sanitizing every day," he said.

State-imposed restrictions on admissions to pools left public officials weighing whether they could afford to open for 2020, and many did not.

McFadden noted pools weren't permitted to open until later in the season, so Brooke Hills Park's pool did not open until June 20.

She said while the pool was limited to 170 patrons, that was above its normal number of admissions.

But Morris said because Tomlinson Run's pool was one of a few that were open, "We had to send a lot of people away every day. We had a wait list. When somebody left, we'd call them."

Supervisors of area pools are looking forward to a season with fewer restrictions but that doesn't mean they won't face challenges.

Many of the pool supervisors reported they are seeing a shortage of lifeguards.

Brettell said because of it, operation of the pool at Aracoma Park will be limited to Thursday through Sunday.

Fetherolf said the Belleview Park pool won't offer swim lessons or pool parties this year because it lacks staff to accommodate them.

There also are plans not to offer free admission on Independence Day when the pool often draws more than 200 visitors.

Shingle is among park supervisors who said they expect to have adequate lifeguards but they will be working full schedules to ensure pools have sufficient supervision.

"All these kids who have said in the past they want more hours will be getting more," he said, noting 15 have been hired for this summer when the city normally employs 20 to 30.

Shingle said because of Starvaggi Memorial Pool's size, there must be at least three lifeguards on duty on most days and a fourth on hot days when it is filled.

"We do have the benefit of being able to use the stable of lifeguards at the Millsop Center if needed," he said.

The reason for the shortage isn't entirely clear. Some said student lifeguards may be seeking work at fast food or retail stores that have raised their pay rates in recent months.

It was noted that lifeguards often pay hundreds of dollars for training required for their certification and weren't able to recoup that expense when pools were closed last year.

Fetherolf, Brettell and McFadden said to attract lifeguards, their boards are offering to cover their training if they continue to work for them through the summer.

Shingle said for some time the city has assisted lifeguards with training costs, including the full amount to renew certification for those who return to the city for subsequent summers.

Many park supervisors said scheduling lifeguards can be challenging because many are high school and college students who return to school in mid-August.

Shingle said in recent years, Starvaggi Memorial Pool has closed at that time.

"It just became such a problem staffing the pool between mid-August and Labor Day," he said while adding patronage also is down then because most students are returning to school, too.

"That might happen to us, too. We'll just have to play it by ear," Brettell said of Mingo Junction's pool.

Fetherolf said the Steubenville pool won't open until June 8 because few students go there before the school year has ended.

Many park supervisors said their pools normally open only on weekends in mid to late August for that reason.

But Henry said the city will be seeking older lifeguards to accommodate the growing number of senior citizens who visit Toronto War Memorial Pool after the new school year has started.

"We get a group that comes in every day," he said, noting the addition of a heater in recent years and warmer than usual weather in September have helped to draw late-season patrons.

Park officials have been busy preparing the pools and making plans for the new season.

Henry noted plans call for Toronto's Independence Day fireworks to be launched from a vantage from which they can be viewed from much of the city. With that in mind, he hopes to organize an event at the pool to coincide with them.

Interim Follansbee City Manager Jack McIntosh noted Follansbee Council recently approved the purchase of a 10-foot-7-inch-long spiral slide for the pool at Follansbee Park. The open flume slide is slated to be installed near the diving section in July.

He added crews recently repainted the bathhouse and a computerized analyzer has been purchased to measure the pool's temperature and pH and chlorine levels.

Morris said the slide at the Tomlinson Run State Park pool will be replaced later this summer. Like the current slide, it will be 182-feet long and in the shape of a figure eight.

Fetherolf said having the Steubenville Pool closed for a year allowed her and city crews to make some repairs there.

McFadden said the Brooke Hills Park pool will open on Memorial Day, two days later than usual, because it recently was repainted and needs time to cure.

She said shipping delays attributed to the pandemic resulted in the rubber-like coating arriving later than planned.

McFadden said the pool will be open from noon to 7 p.m. that day before switching to regular hours of noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $7 for all ages, which includes the splash pad added by the pool a few years ago.

McFadden added prior to Memorial Day, the park will be offering a 20 percent discount on season passes to the pool, which normally are $100 per person or $300 for a family or other group of 6.

Tomlinson Run State Park's pool will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 29 and remain open throughout the week except for the first week of June and late August, when it may be limited to weekends due to lifeguard availability.

Admission is $4 for children under 12 and $6 for all others. Season passes are $189.74 for a family of six. Also are available are two-day passes, popular with many camping at the park, for $37.10 each.

The Follansbee Park pool will be open from noon to 6 p.m. May 29 and remain open during those hours seven days a week until mid-August, when it's expected to shift to weekends only.

Pool parties and swim lessons, for children 5 and older, may be arranged.

Admission is $5 for everyone, with children 5 and under admitted free. Season passes are $125 for a family of six living in the city and $150 for a family six living outside it. They may be purchased at the City Building.

Plans call for the swimming pool at Aracoma Park in Mingo Junction to open on Memorial Day, after which its regular hours will be 10 a.m. to noon for adults and noon to 6 p.m. for everyone Thursday through Sunday.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth, ages 12-17; and $2 for children, ages 3-11; with children under 3 admitted free.

The Belleview Park pool in Steubenville will open June 8 and remain open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $3 for everyone, with children under 4 admitted free. Season passes are $40 for individuals and $90 for a family of five.

The Toronto War Memorial Pool will open May 29. Plans call for it to remain open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for adults and from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for everyone, both throughout the week until mid-August. There are tentative plans for it to remain open for adults at that time.

Starvaggi Memorial Pool in Weirton will be open from noon to 8 p.m. May 29-31, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 1-3 and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 4. After that, its regular hours will be from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.