Arrangements made
for summer swimming lessons
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Closure of the outdoor pool has required some juggling of swimming schedules. Park and Rec Department Director Chris Beaulieu provided City Council with an update on how he and his staff plan to address the community’s swimming needs in coming weeks during Monday night’s meeting.
“We’ve added a number of slots at the indoor pool, as well as one morning a week at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Gentile Hall pool. We’re able to utilize the pool there one morning a week,” said Beaulieu.
Of the 130 people signed up for classes, Beaulieu said about 90 have been moved to openings at the two facilities.
“Several haven’t gotten back to us. Only a handful wanted a refund,” said Beaulieu. “We feel good, almost 100 kids are taking lessons at this point.”
Beaulieu said so far only one family cancelled, citing an inability to coordinate swim times due to the number of children in the family who were signed up for classes.
“We’re offering three or four lessons at a time at each facility. We offer as many different levels as we can,” he said.
“Summer lessons were $6 at the outdoor pool and $36 at the indoor. They’re now going for $10, regardless where they’re taken for the summer months,” said City Manager Jim Bennett, noting out-of-town residents seeking lessons will be charged $20.
The city was able to make arrangements with UMPI to use the Gentile Hall pool for summer lessons, at a rental fee of $525.
“That’s for seven weeks. It’s a very good deal. Normally they charge $100 an hour,” said Beaulieu, noting the city is supplying the staff at both sites.
Councilor Craig Green said he’d heard of a lot of people interested in open swim times and asked Beaulieu about fees for general swim time.
“Weekday days it’s $1 per person,” said Beaulieu.
Green indicated that might be a challenge for some families but he knew of some individuals in the community who’d expressed interest in assisting with the cost.
“There are some in town who are willing to donate toward a scholarship for use of the pool. I’d like to creatively work to identify (those in need) to guarantee we don’t turn anyone away,” said Green.
Bennett asked councilors if this was “an acceptable solution for the summer,” with councilors agreeing it was.
Councilors then went on to discuss the future of the outdoor pool. It was agreed that repairing the existing pool wouldn’t be cost effective and that other alternatives should be considered.
Council Chair Emily Smith said city officials should consider one of the area waterways as a possible swimming option.
“Hanson Lake was used for swimming for years. We might be able to do something there,” said Smith.
Councilor Dick Engels said prior discussion of incorporating a pool with plans for the new Community Center should be considered, but in the meantime area waterways were a possibility.
“I question whether there’s any place on the Presque Isle Stream or some other outdoor facility that could be used for swimming. If that’s feasible — if it could be done under health and DEP regulations — it would be a cheaper way of doing to satisfy public need,” said Engels.
Bennett said he and city officials would continue to look at options and provide more information at a future meeting.
