DeletSwimming pool numbers have not been finalized for the 2014 season just yet but Escalon Recreation Department staffer Bridget Gaines said the season was definitely successful.
The final of three swimming lesson sessions continues through tomorrow, July 31 and wraps up the three two-week offerings.
“They were basically full,” Gaines said. “The older the kids get, the smaller the classes but the Level 1, 2 and 3 classes were full.”
Students in the pool for the final session had some hot weather, as temperatures peaked this past week in the low 100s, making for some busy afternoons for free swim as well.
“They’ve been staying busy over there,” Gaines agreed.
She added that the final Mommy and Me class was one of the biggest sessions they have seen for that program. The parent-child class is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the traditional swimming lessons run Monday through Thursday.
Head swim instructor Casey Pettitt agreed that the lessons have gone over well and said her crew of lifeguards and swim lesson instructors worked well with the kids.
“They’ve been going great,” Pettitt said.
Mom Tina Godsey said her 5-year-old son Soren was enjoying his Level 2 classes.
“He’s been having fun and he has learned a lot this summer,” Godsey said. “He got over some of his fears (about the water) and the staff was very nice, supportive.”
The pool was closed one day due to vandalism – bags of sand were dumped in it – and then had to be shut down for a week due to a pump malfunction that required replacement of the pump.
That meant only three swim lesson sessions as opposed to the normal four, but Gaines said that seemed to work in their favor, with the full class sizes.
Recreational swimming is offered in the afternoon, cost is $2 per day for children or adults and the pool will be open for the season through Friday, Aug. 8.
It closes following the afternoon swim that day, and school resumes the following week.
Construction going on at the high school and around the pool hampered access somewhat during the summer season, though Pettitt said most of the work that blocked the way to the pool was completed the week it was closed for the pump repair.
“We had a good crew, a good season,” Gaines said.