City pool to close for season Aug. 12 after a slow 2013

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Just one year after persistent temperatures in the 90s and numerous days of 100 degrees or more prevailed and sent residents running to the city pool for relief, summer 2013 has been just too cool for the pool.

And all that means fewer admissions, lesser revenues and no need to extend the pool season this year.

"The pool season has been very, very slow," Greencastle Park Director Rod Weinschenk conceded to the Park Board Thursday night during its regular monthly meeting at City Hall.

"The weather just has not been conducive to running a municipal swimming pool," he added, noting that cool and/or rainy weather has been the norm throughout much of the summer. "The summer hasn't been the warmest or the friendliest to an outdoor swimming pool."

Consequently fewer and fewer people have gone to the pool and "revenues are down big time," Weinschenk said, advising the Park Board that his staff will be paying extra close attention to expenses the rest of 2013 since they won't have much pool revenue to fall back on.

"Because our attendance has been slim," Weinschenk added, "we've been forced to cut back on expenses, limiting hours of employees and concession purchases."

The aquatics center will close for the season on Monday evening, Aug. 12, Weinschenk announced.

The annual after-school pool operations schedule will take effect on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

Those revised hours will include:

Wednesday, Aug. 7 -- Adult lap swim, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; open swim, 4-8 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8 -- Adult lap swim, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; open swim, 4-8 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 9 -- Adult lap swim, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; open swim, 4-8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10 -- Adult lap swim, 11 a.m.-noon; open swim, 12-8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 11 -- Open swim, 12-8 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 12 -- Adult lap swim, 11 a.m.-1 p.m; open swim, 4-8 p.m.

Meanwhile, the newest Park Board member, Cathy Merrell, reported that she and her family greatly enjoyed the season pass holders' night at the pool on July 25. She described an evening of fun with an accommodating disc jockey and activities that included the rare chance for children to use of pool toys at the facility.

The only disappointment, Merrell said, was that few people took advantage of the night. She and others believe that is at least partly due to a conflict with the Putnam County Fair. The fair cheerleading contest, always a big draw at the fair with all county schools competing, was held the same night as the pool season pass party.

Weinschenk made a note to avoid scheduling special events during fair week in the future.

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  • duh, you have to make a note to avoid scheduling events during fair week? How long have you lived here? The park itself has looked very poor this year. Hardly no teams play softball. We used to watch softball every night of the week. Now it is slim to none. Something needs to be done. We need to encourage the teams to play here, not drive them away to other towns!! Take pride in the park and keep it looking nice, if you can't do it then get someone who can!

    -- Posted by Falcon9 on Sat, Aug 3, 2013, at 1:46 PM
  • Agreed!

    -- Posted by talkymom3 on Sat, Aug 3, 2013, at 8:28 PM
  • You have to be open to make money. Closing early eliminates more opportunities to make money. Stay open later during the evening. Most families in this town work until 5. Then have to tend to dinner, chores, etc...

    -- Posted by Hungry&Fat on Sun, Aug 4, 2013, at 5:54 PM
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