City pool is open in Weiser with a few changes due to COVID-19

The Weiser pool opened for the summer on June 1. It is a place for people of all ages to swim, exercise, relax, and have fun.
 The pool’s opening was a bit later than usual due to the restrictions and guidelines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional changes have been made to keep the swimmers and community members as safe as possible.  
 The first major change due to COVID-19 is that there will be no night swimming. The rest of the pool’s schedule, however, will remain the same as previous years, starting with lap swim and aerobics from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.,  swim team from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., swim lessons from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., lap swim from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., open swim from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and lap swim and aerobics from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
 The second major change prohibits people from reserving the pool for private parties.
 Thirdly, only private swimming lessons are available at this time. In contrast to public lessons, which include a group of kids, private lessons allow only one kid per instructor. These will take place during the regular lesson times.
 Additionally, there is a restriction on the number of people allowed in the pool at one time. The number is currently capped at 50 people in the pool at a time. Once this limitation is reached, people will need to wait to be let in, including season pass holders.
 Along with all these changes, all staff members of the pool are working tirelessly to keep the pool as clean and safe as possible.
 Abbey Shirts is the manager of the pool. She started working there in 2016 as a lifeguard. The next two summers, in 2017 and 2018, she served as a head lifeguard. In 2019 she became manager of the pool.
 She loves working there, finding joy in teaching lessons and becoming good friends with her coworkers.
 “My favorite part is working with my amazing staff and all the kids,” Shirts said.  
 Shirts believes that despite all the changes and difficulties that have occurred this year due to COVID-19, everything is going smoothly, and the lifeguards have been handling everything very well.
 The lifeguards this year include siblings Emma Estes and Justin Estes, Bentley Weldon, Ciana Fuller and Luke Johnson. There are plans to hire additional lifeguards soon.
 Many of these lifeguards have grown up swimming at the pool and love that they are now the ones sitting in the stands watching over everything to keep the swimmers safe.
 Bentley Weldon, who is back for her second year as a lifeguard, said she has spent many summer days at the city pool.
 “I loved growing up at the pool. I joined the swim team when I got older, and now I am working as a lifeguard,” she said. “It is a great place for kids to spend their summer afternoons playing and getting a tan. I am very grateful for Ken Anderson, our Weiser recreation director, our manager Abbey Shirts, and everyone else whose contribution keeps the pool operating so we can bring joy to others.”  
 Other lifeguards have also expressed their joy for working at the place they grew up.
 Emma Estes, who returns for  her fourth year as a lifeguard, said she is looking forward to a great summer.
 “Working as a lifeguard has been a great experience. I love getting to see all the kids every year. I have gained a lot of knowledge I can apply to all areas of my life.”
 The pool is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday. A season pass costs $46, while day passes range from $2.50 for ages 12 and under, $3 for ages 13 and up, and $1.50 for seniors 55 and up.
 All the staffers are working together to make sure the summer is fun and safe for all the swimmers.

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

Connect with Us