WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau Parks and Recreation Committee has instructed pool leaders to add more free swimming days to the 2019 season calendar, after experimenting with the offering during the second half of the last season.
Recreation Supervisor Karyn Powers says after putting together last summer’s program on short notice, the new schedule will allow families to plan ahead and take advantage of the offering. “We have plenty of lead time to make a consistent schedule and get the word out. People can make plans appropriately and not chase the days.”
In addition to the traditional free Wednesday evening sessions, the 2019 calendar will offer free swimming on Thursday evenings. One of the city’s pools will also offer free admission all day Sunday on a rotating basis. Finally, the first and last day of the session will also be free at each pool.
Powers says it’s a way of giving back to the community while allowing children to build and develop life skills. “The committee wants to make the pools available to the community so they can use them whether they are going to pay or not pay. Free times are to bring them in and introduce them and reward them for being community members.”
County and city Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Jamie Polley says her office has already had conversations with at least one group that’s willing to sponsor free swimming days in 2019 to help offset the cost of staffing the pools. She estimates that in 2018 free swimming days set the pools back about $8,000 in wages, adding that it’s hard to tell how much the additional free swimming time will cost next year but they are making plans for it in the upcoming budget.
Polley is also continuing to explore the possibility of themed or reduced admission days next year such as a “take your grandparents to the pool” day. “We want to promote the pool, so if we can do any type of special event throughout the summer it will be a matter what we have staffing for. I think we will be adding some fun to it as well.”
Those on the Parks and Recreation committee including Alder David Nutting noted that the pools have never been a revenue generator for the city, but rather a benefit for the community to enjoy. The committee also discussed the pool’s policy of closing early if the number of swimmers in the water dipped to below the number of lifeguards on duty for more than an hour. That policy has been known to frustrate some parents who show up after the pool was closed due to low numbers.
