Middletown'snew$7.8M pool complex seeing high traffic, waits during heat wave

Jul. 28—The councilman, who sits on the Veterans' Park Pool & Splash Pad Building Committee, spent two hours at the pool Thursday. He was impressed at how many campers were enjoying the summer afternoon, calling the complex a "phenomenal success."

The $7.8 million rebuild transformed the 64-year-old aquatics facility into one that rivals that of other similarly-sized municipalities, although the project has suffered many delays.

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The pool, which opened July 19, is at least 50 percent larger than the original. It includes dedicated lap lanes, and a resistance area from the big pool to the small one, where water runs the opposite way for underwater exercise.

In the 10 days since the pool and splash pad opened to the public, some have taken to social media to say that capacity issues have arisen.

The splash pad has no real wait time, Middletown Recreation & Community Services Director Catherine Lechowicz said. However, there are some times when it is crowded, she added.

No attendants are monitoring that area, so parents are asked to keep an eye on their children for safety.

Pool capacity, she explained, is based on a ratio of swimmers to lifeguards, who can monitor up to 15 swimmers each. Depending on the shift, Lechowicz said, between four and six guards are working, which allows between 45 and 60 swimmers.

Residents are charged a nominal fee for each visit, and nonresidents are charged at a higher rate, just as they are for season passes.

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Lifeguards began training in mid-June; according to minutes of the June Recreation & Community Services Commission, however, an official reported that only 50 percent of those taking the course end up passing.

An idea of a boot camp being held throughout the year was floated to help potential guards be ready for summer work.

Guards need to rotate and take breaks, Lechowicz said. "We are tracking wait times, and, on average, users who put their name on the waitlist are waiting 30 to 35 minutes."

"It's incredibly popular," Nocera said. "It's such a beautiful place. I'm not surprised that interest is off the charts."

Two sets of campers were splashing around Thursday, and it was a "full house," he added.

The splash pad, an entirely new element open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, saw good traffic Thursday. "I wouldn't say the place was overwhelmed. Everybody got in without waiting," the councilman said.

"There's never a time when nobody is on the splash pad. There's always people there — and that's great. That's why we built it," he added.

"What's happening is, it's so beautiful that the community wants to get in there during the day, and it's reserved for camps," Nocera said. "It's spectacular. You don't want to leave."

Recreation officials have added more staff and increased hours of operation to accommodate the demand, he added. "We're trying to operate within the budget, like any good organization," he said.

Nocera apologized to those who have to wait a little when crowds are bigger than usual sometimes. "The response has been fabulous," he said.

Swim lessons run weekday mornings until about noon, Lechowicz said, and camp swim is held most weekdays through 2:30 p.m., so the pool is not open for public swim during those times.

Crystal Lake, at 244 Livingston Road, is another option for those seeking respite from the heat.

Youths who go to Camp Crystal, run through the recreation department, swim at Crystal Lake until 11:45 a.m. on weekdays, said Recreation Services Division Manager Karen Nocera. During that period only, the beach is unavailable.

The lake is situated in Ron McCutcheon Park, and is open from dawn to dusk for free, but lifeguards are not on site this summer, Karen Nocera said.

"We have moved all guards to the pool to try to meet demand," Lechowicz said.

Swim lessons and indoor pool open sessions are also available at the new recreation center at 140 Wilderman's Way.

The Veterans Pool setup, on a hill next door to the Connecticut Trees of Honor, is unique in Connecticut, the councilman said. "People are sitting on the grass with their lunches. It's beautiful to see."

Because the facility opened a month later than usual, resident pool passes have been reduced to $15 for individuals and $25 for families. Refunds are being issued to those who already bought passes at the full rate.

Due to extreme heat Friday and high demand, the recreation department announced on Facebook, nonresident daily passes were not sold. Staff encouraged users to limit their visit to two hours or less that day.

Daily pool fees are $4 for under 18 ($8 per nonresident), $6 for ages 18-59 ($10 nonresident), and $4 for 60 and older ($10 nonresident).

Public swim hours are 2:45 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, and Wednesday through Friday; Tuesday from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m., and weekends, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, visit middletownct.gov or Middletown CT Rec on Facebook.