While a few community pools were open over the hot Memorial Day weekend, several others are getting ready to open their gates this Saturday.
Pottsville
The John F. Kennedy Pool Complex and Recreational Center, York Farm Road, Pottsville, will open for its 50th season Saturday. Hours will be noon to 7 p.m. through the summer.
“We will be celebrating JFK’s 50th birthday this year,” Noralea Matz, pool manager, said Tuesday.
The nearly 600,000-gallon pool was built in 1965, but had its first official season the following year. Matz said the pool will have events scattered throughout the season to celebrate.
In April, three students from Schuylkill Technology Center-South Campus, Mar Lin, helped build a pavilion at the pool. The wooden structure is about 25 by 28 feet and is in a fenced-in area near the back of the pool. The pavilion can accommodate about 60 people.
The pool will also be used by local swimming teams this summer.
Matz said lanes were painted in the pool and the Schuylkill YMCA swim team will practice there before it opens starting June 13.
Season tickets are now available. Applications can be made at the city administrator’s office on the third floor of city hall, 401 N. Centre St., Pottsville. Tickets will also be available at city hall and the pool throughout the summer. The discount period ends Friday.
For more information, click the JFK Pool tab at www.city.pottsville.pa.us.
Pine Grove
It was free to swim at the Pine Grove Community Pool, 44 E. Mill St., Pine Grove, over the long weekend. The pool was open from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday through Monday.
“The pool was packed all weekend,” Lindsey Zimmerman, a pool manager and water safety instructor, said Tuesday. “The weather was great. Everyone was able to enjoy a full weekend at the pool.”
Zimmerman said the pool also had free admission over Memorial Day last year and run similar events toward the end of the year.
“We just want to show everyone we are a community-based organization and want everyone in the community to be able to enjoy it,” Zimmerman said.
On Friday and Saturday, the pool will also have its “Throwback Weekend” with $1 admission and specials at the snack bar.
The pool will officially open for the season at noon June 8. The pool will be daily from noon to 7 p.m.
Season tickets are available at borough hall or at the pool. The discount period ends Sunday.
For more information, visit www.pinegrovepool.com.
Tamaqua
With the Lansford Pool unable to open this year, the pool’s rates and passes for the Panther Valley Area residents will be honored at the Howard D. Buehler Memorial Pool, Catawissa Street, Tamaqua. The pool was closed for the season, and likely next year, due to leaks at the 72-year-old facility.
The pool opened for the season Saturday with a few hundred people cooling off in the water, Rob Jones, borough public works director, said Tuesday. It is open 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Discounted rates for Tamaqua Area School District residents are available thanks to the John E. Morgan Foundation. Rates will remain the same as last year, $10 each for residents of the Tamaqua Area School District. Season pass holders will also be able to apply for temporary passes for guests/visitors. These passes are available for $10 per week with a two-week maximum.
“Last year, we issued 2,292 individual in-district passes, 17 out-of-district passes and 18 weekly guest passes,” Jones said. “So far this year, we have 1,367 in-district, seven out-of-district and 25 passes for the Panther Valley people.”
Application forms, rate structures and additional information is available at Tamaqua Borough Hall, 320 E. Broad St. Completed applications need to be submitted to borough hall. For more information, call borough hall at 570-668-3444.
Saint Clair
The Saint Clair Community Pool, East Lawton Street, Saint Clair, will open June 11. It will be open noon to 6 p.m. daily. Season tickets will be available at the pool’s concession stand when it opens. It will remain open until Aug. 7.
Roland Price, borough secretary, said they recently applied for a $250,000 grant to upgrade the pool.
“It gives the kids somewhere to go,” Price said. “
The borough’s street department were set to start filling the pool today, Price said.
Cressona
The Cressona Borough Pool will open Sunday. It will close Aug. 28. The Blue Mountain Middle School Pool will also open Sunday and close mid-August.
Discounted season passes for the Cressona Pool are available through Friday. After that, passes will be available at the Recreation Office at the regular season rate. Individuals will be able to fill out a pool pass request form and pay at the Cressona Pool, but there will be at least a one to two day wait for passes to arrive at the pool as they are processed at the Recreation Office during regular business hours. An ID card is required. Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult or responsible older sibling to be admitted to the pool.
The pool will be open 12:30 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The pool will remain open to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for season pass holders only.
For more information, visit Blue Mountain Recreation’s website at www.bluemountainrec.com or call the Recreation Office at 570-366-1190.
Minersville
The Minersville Community Pool at the Fourth Street Recreational Complex was also open over the Memorial Day weekend. It will officially open for the season Saturday. Regular hours will be noon to 7 p.m. daily.
Season tickets are now available at borough office and will also be available at the Minersville Community Pool once it opens.
Hegins
The Tri-Valley Community Pool, 306 S. Good Spring Road, Hegins, opened at noon Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the Memorial Day weekend.
The first official day of the regular season is this Saturday. Opening at noon, it will be free admission.
Regular season hours for the pool will be noon through 7 p.m.
Season tickets and daily admission prices are the same as last year, according to the pools Facebook page.
For more information, visit the Tri-Valley Community Pool’s Facebook page.
Tremont
The Tremont Community Swimming Pool, 139 Clay St., opened Saturday, according to the borough website. Regular hours are noon to 6 p.m. daily. Season passes are now available and can be bought at borough hall.
For more information, click the Tremont Pool tab on www.tremontborough.com or call the pool at 570-695-3442 or borough hall at 570-695-2199.
Tower City
The Porter/Tower Community Pool, Wiconisco Avenue and 12th Street, Tower City, will open Friday, according to its Facebook page. It will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, visit the Tower City Pool — Porter-Tower Recreation Commission’s Facebook page or call the pool at 717-647-9695.