Pool's slides, amenities pull 1,300 for opening day

By DAVID J. CROSS

It wouldn't be a stretch to say the two intertwining slides at Bexley's new pool facility are fan favorites.

They are, as a young girl said after one ride, scary but fun.

They are also one of the attractions some residents are touting as what could make the new $3.5 million pool a success.

"It meet everyone's needs," said Traci McGlinchey, a mother of two who was at the pool Thursday.

She said the new facility was a vast improvement over the former pool. And others, including staff members, agree.

Natalie Lesser, an assistant manager at the pool, said there appeared to be few people who were missing the old structure.

"I grew up going to the pool; and as much as I loved the old pool, the changes are exciting," Lesser said, noting that only a few young children have said they miss the old structure.

Designed from residents' input on what they wanted, the new facility opened last week to much fanfare.

Natalie Contosta, a parks and recreation supervisor, said the opening day brought few troubles, despite the larger than average crowd.

Overall, about 1,300 people came to the pool's opening day which coincided with Memorial Day. At one point, somewhere between 700 and 800 people were in the facility at once, she said.

Based on the opening day's numbers and community interest, Contosta said she expects this year's average attendance to be higher than previous years. Last year's average was about 290 people a day.

"If Monday wouldn't have been as overcast as it was, I think we would have had more come through the gate," Contosta said.

Although there were few complaints about the pool itself, a gripe among some residents has risen in the short time the facility has been open.

Unlike in the past, residents are not allowed to bring outside food into the facility. The change stems from a contract with a vending company running the concession stand this year, city officials said.

"We are not banning that completely; we are just asking people to keep their coolers in their cars and eat outside the facility," Contosta said. "We didn't want to take it away completely, we are still providing a picnic area outside the facility."

Bexley receives about 15 percent of the money collected from the concession stand.

However, for some residents such as McGlinchey, the change has hampered some of the pool's fun. She said the facility needs more healthy options and eating there every day could be expensive.

"This is going to be our home away from home in the summertime and I can't see spending $15 a day," she said.

Editor's note: An article in the June 13 issue of Bexley News reports that partly in response to numerous complaints, including those added to an Internet petition with more than 300 signatures, the city has changed its stance on not allowing outside food into the new pool facility.



 

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