Petersburg makes a big splash with Tuesday's reopening of city's only public swimming pool

PETERSBURG — The city's only public swimming pool reopened Tuesday after a two-year pandemic-related slumber, and while Petersburg made it swim-ready with some repairs, more work on it is expected to come soon.

For residents like Keisha Ward and her daughter, Faith, they just are thankful the pool is open to help them beat the heat.

"I'm glad it's open. It gives the kids something to do," said Ward.

Four-year-old Faith turned the first day of the pool into a bit of a fashion event. Donning a new multicolor swimsuit, she also sported a huge grin as she splashed around in the kiddie pool.

"I feel bright," Faith said.

Tuesday's pool opening could not have come at a better time, with the Tri-City area locked in a major summer heat wave, jumping into a hole with clear, cool water was the ideal respite.

When The Progress-Index was out there for the first day, there were roughly a dozen or so people swimming around. A group of kids were playing a game of water ball at one end of the pool. Parents were close at hand to offer guidance, advice, encouragement and the occasional towel to the soaked children as they got out.

The Parks and Leisure Department, which operates the pool, estimated more than 70 people turned out for opening day. As this week's daytime temperatures continue to hover in the 90s, the heat index that measures the "real feel" of how hot it is will soar past the 100-degree mark, and that should continue to bring out the visitors.

Saturday's high temperature is expected to hit 99 degrees.

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On Thursday, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the Tri-City area, with the heat index expected to reach 107 degrees.

Lishelle Judd, 33, who grew up using the community pool and even learned to swim there, is now teaching her youngest daughter to get comfortable in the water.

"We've been waiting for this day," said Judd. "A community pool we don't have to pay for. The water feels good."

During the two years the pool was closed, Judd would book a stay at the hotel for her family to use the pool there.

Like so many other services and activities, the Farmer Street pool fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The following year, as more and more activities began emerging from the COVID coma, Petersburg made the decision to keep the pool gates locked for one more year, the reason being that since children made up such a large portion of the pool's audience, virus vaccines for that age set has not been given the go-ahead. Now that everyone of all ages are eligible for the vaccine, the city decided that now was the right time to get the pool splash-worthy.

Eventually, Petersburg plans to invest in what city spokesperson Joanne Williams called "intensive reconstruction" to the pool. Initial plans called for those to take place as soon as possible, but the timeline of that work did not jibe with the planned opening of the pool

"Following site visits and conversations with two potential contractors, the city decided to move forward with repairs instead of intensive reconstruction that would not have been completed until the end of October," Williams said in an email. "The city wanted to open the pool as soon as possible."

So Petersburg opted for repairs now and hold off on the major work until later. Until those bids can be received and awarded, the city issued a temporary work order with a pool maintenance company to handle upkeep.

"There will be no gaps in service," Williams wrote.

The repairs to the pool included restoration of the pool's surface, fixing the pool's steps, enclosing light fixtures and general re-plastering of other areas. The kiddie pool received an extensive cleaning, and the pumps to both pools were fixed. The sinks and toilets in the bath house were also repaired.

Additionally, Williams said, Petersburg hired four lifeguards to work at the pool, and was interviewing candidates for a fifth lifeguard position this week.

The pool is located at 1216 Farmer St. Hours of operation through the summer will be noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, but the city left open the possibility of extending those hours once the lifeguards are fully staffed. Admission is free.

If you are not a swimmer but still need a way to keep cool in the scorching temperatures, Petersburg's cooling station is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. this week through Saturday at the downtown Transit Center on West Washington Street. Residents will have access to air conditioning and water, but no food or pets, with the exception of service animals, will be allowed inside. Entrance to the cooling station will be on the building's Union Street side.

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Joyce Chu, an award-winning investigative journalist, is the Social Justice Watchdog Reporter for The Progress Index. Contact her with comments, concerns, or story-tips at Jchu1@gannett.com or on Twitter @joyce_speaks.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg's public pool reopens after two years in time to beat heat