Make a splash: Area pools ready to open

Below is an article that appeared in the Northern Virginia Daily on May 27th, 2021. 

STRASBURG — Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and area communities are ready to go swimming.

Pools in Strasburg and Mount Jackson will open Friday.

In Edinburg, Woodstock, New Market, Stephens City, Clear Brook, Winchester and Berryville, pools will open on Saturday.

Front Royal’s Claude A. Stokes Community Swimming Pool has Memorial Day weekend hours but will open officially for the summer on June 21.

The pool at the Northern Virginia 4-H Center is scheduled to open on June 5.

Though the splash pad in Front Royal opened for the season on May 22, the splash pad in Old Town Winchester remained closed as of Thursday.

It should be opening soon, said Shawna Boswell, development services assistant for the City of Winchester.

“We’re hoping for Memorial Day weekend,” Boswell said.

She asked that people check the city’s Facebook page for updates.

Despite being open, some pools are forgoing services like pool parties or swim lessons.

But after most pools and water features were either closed or operating at decreased capacity last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, their reopening for the 2021 season brings with it a feeling of festivity just in time for the holiday weekend.

Mount Jackson

The pool at 326 Wunder St. will have daily hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until August. After that, the pool will be open weekends only through Labor Day.

Adult and senior swim are from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays until August and then on Saturdays only. Admission is free for anyone older than 50.

The full concessions menu is back this year after taking a year off, and the pool is also offering chairs now, said Manager Haley Adams.

“That’s a lot different this year,” she said.

Admission is $4 for patrons 12 and older, $2 for children 5 to 11, and free to those 4 and younger.

Individual summer passes are $50 and family passes are $110 for up to six people.

Pool parties can be reserved for 6:30 p.m. until dusk on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Rates are $110 for fewer than 25 guests and $140 for 25 to 50 guests.

The pool will close early for swim meets and will not be offering swim lessons this year.

For reservations, call 540-477-2670. Visit the town’s website at mountjackson.com/life-in-mount-jackson/park-and-town-center-rentals.

Strasburg

The pool at 295 Park Road will open for the season today following a Thursday night “Last Day of School” pool party sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Senior swim and lap swim will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday, and Water Wings and swim lessons from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday to Friday.

Level 1 lessons will run from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m. June 14-17, June 28-July 2 and July 12-15.

Level 2 will run from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and 6 to 6:30 p.m. June 21-24, July 5-8 and July 19-22.

Lessons are $55 and children must be at least 3 years old. Registration begins at the pool on June 1.

A 4th of July Celebration will start at 6:30 p.m. on July 4 with children’s amusements, food and live music. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

The Kiwanis Club will host Splash Socials with free snacks and swimming from 7 to 9 p.m. on June 18 and July 16.

General admission is $4 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, $2 for children 3 to 5, and free for children 2 and younger accompanied by a paying adult.

Seasonal punch passes are available for preschoolers at $25 each, students at $35, adults at $45 and families at $175. All passes allow 10 admissions.

Pool parties are available from 7 to 9 p.m. with two lifeguards and a manager and a maximum of 40 swimmers for $150. Each additional lifeguard per 20 swimmers will be $25. Parties must be scheduled through the Town Office.

Park pavilions can be reserved for half a day at $25 and a full day at $50. Secure your reservation at the Town Office with a $25 deposit that’s refundable if the shelter is left clean.

For all pool happenings, party rentals, swim lessons and staffing inquiries, email Pool and Park Manager Danni Leigh at dleigh@strasburgva.com.

Edinburg

Starting Saturday, the Madison District Pool at 100 Park Road will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 12:30 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for school-age children 5 to 17 and $1 for children 4 and younger.

“They’re not having swimming lessons, but they are doing pool parties,” said Town Clerk Mary Lowerre.

She said the season will run at least until school starts on Aug. 5.

Woodstock Pool at W.O. Riley Park will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays.

The pool will have regular operating hours on July 4, and when the school year begins on Aug. 5, the pool will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. during the week, with regular weekend hours.

During the Shenandoah County Fair, Aug. 30 to Sept. 4, the pool will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Lap swim will be from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 8 to 9:30 a.m. Sundays beginning June 2. It’s open to all experience levels at $5 for those who don’t have a season pass.

Daily admission is $3 for children 5 and younger accompanied by an adult, $4 for children 6 to 18 and $5 for adults 19 and older.

Season passes are also available.

Pool party rental is $175 from 7 to 9 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.

The baby pool can be rented for $50 from 9 to 11 a.m., and the small covered shelter within the pool area can be reserved for small birthday parties or other celebrations during pool hours for $25.

For rules on rentals and information on swim lessons, visit townofwoodstockva.com/308/Parks-Pool. To schedule a pool party, call 540-459-3121.

New Market

The pool at 9656 Cadet Road will be open daily until school starts in August and then weekends only from Aug. 7 to Sept. 6.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pool is open to the public, but children nine and younger should be accompanied by an adult. Guests are expected to abide by the rules posted at the pool. Concessions are available for purchase.

The pool will close at 4:15 p.m. June 24, June 30 and July 7 and will be closed July 11 for the all-county swim meet.

Admission is $4 for ages 12 and older, $3 for ages 6 to 11 and free for children 5 and younger accompanied by a paying adult.

Summer passes are $60 for ages 12 and older and $50 for younger children.

Pool parties will not be available this summer.

For more information, visit newmarketvirginia.com/residents/parks-and-rec/new-market-community-pool.

Front Royal

Claude A. Stokes Community Swimming Pool at 1000 Stadium Drive will have Memorial Day weekend hours from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Children 11 and younger must be accompanied by someone 18 or older. The facility includes a concessions area and two picnic shelters.

Swim lessons will be available, with the first session from June 28 to July 2 and a second session from July 12 to 16.

Starting with the official June 21 opening, hours will be noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and noon to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Admission is $5 for ages 16 to 54, $4.50 for ages 6 to 15, $4 for 55 and older and those with a military ID, and $3 for children 3 to 5. A family of four can swim for $15, and preapproved groups can get a 20% discounted rate.

Lap swim is $2 and will be from 7 to 9 a.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday.

Rental nights are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday.

For more on seasonal passes and rental information, visit warrencountyva.net/community-swimming-pool.

The Warren County Splash Pad opened as of May 22 at Dr. Saul Seide Memorial Gardens Memorial Park and is open from noon to 6 p.m. daily.

Check the Warren County website and the Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page for any updates.

COVID-19 social distancing requirements will be posted at the Splash Pad and are available at the Raymond E. Santmyers Youth Center, 200 East 8th St., Front Royal.

For more information, call 540-635-7750 or visit warrencountyva.net.

Northern Virginia 4-H Center

Starting June 5, pool at 600 4h Center Drive, Front Royal, will open for the season. Concessions are available.

Public swim is $5 per person from noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday.

Senior lap swim is $3 per person from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday to Sunday.

Season passes offer unlimited admission during public swim times for a $125 individual pass and $75 for each additional member or immediate family.

Pool parties can be scheduled for two hours of exclusive use booked outside regular public swim hours and swim lesson sessions at $200 for up to 50 people or $300 for up to 75 people.

For information on swim lessons, visit nova4h.com/news/summer-swim-lessons.

For other information, visit nova4h.com/programs/swimming.

Berryville

Clarke County Swimming Pool at 255 Al Smith Circle will be open from noon to 6 p.m. daily except June 14 to 17, when it’s open from 3 to 6 p.m.

Bring chairs or blankets.

There is no last-hour discount this year and no refunds for inclement weather.

Following Memorial Day, the pool facility will be closed on weekdays until June 11.

General admission is $5.50 for people 16 to 54, $4.50 for youth 6 to 15 and $4 for children 3 to 5 and people 55 and older.

Discounts apply to Clarke County residents and senior citizens. Children 2 and younger are admitted free with a paying adult.

Rentals, lessons and classes will be available.

For more information, visit clarkecounty.gov/government/parks-recreation/swimming-pool. Call 540-955-5158 or visit facebook.com/clarkecoparksandrec for updates on inclement or threatening weather.

Winchester

Jim Barnett Park Outdoor Pool, at 1001 War Memorial Drive will be open daily through Labor Day.

General admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for students, $4 for children, seniors and military and $14 for a family of up to four members.

For more information, visit winchesterva.gov/parks/outdoor-pool, or view the City of Winchester’s aquatics page at tinyurl.com/3hfsp3k7.

This summer, the outdoor pool will open with limited capacity, and social distancing could be required because of COVID-19 restrictions.

General swim is from noon to 5:45 p.m., with lap swim from 5:30 to 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on weekends.

On Memorial Day, general swim hours will be from noon to 6:30 p.m.

Frederick County

Pools at Clearbrook Park and Sherando Park will be open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday to Monday this three-day weekend as well as the following two weekends.

The regular season runs from June 16 to Aug. 15.

Admission is $3 for anyone 3 and older. Infants up to age 2 get in free.

Pool rentals are available from 7 to 9 p.m., 9 to 11 p.m. or 7 to 11 p.m. Friday to Sunday by reservation only with at least one week notice.

For more information, go to fcva.us/departments/parks-recreation/pools-swim-lessons.

Contact Josette Keelor at jkeelor@nvdaily.com