After two-year hiatus, the only public pool in Kansas City, Kansas, reopens

Regardless of a barely chilly begin to the day, with temperatures within the low 70s, residents of northeast Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, flocked to Parkwood Pool for its opening day Saturday. The pool, which is the one public pool in Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, was closed in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus and a lifeguard scarcity.

Kenneth Williams introduced his two granddaughters to the grand re-opening Saturday. He stated he was born and raised in Wyandotte County and he has fond recollections of swimming at Parkwood Pool. Williams stated the pool is nice for the neighborhood and was sorely missed throughout its hiatus.

“With the pandemic and a bunch of issues happening, it’s time to have the youngsters some place to go. So I’m actually ecstatic and enthusiastic about it,” he stated.

Williams plans to carry his grandkids to the pool a few times per week.

Kansas state Sen. David Haley was additionally excited for the pool’s re-opening. He lives shut sufficient to Parkwood that he walked there Saturday. Haley stated he remembers when the pool was first constructed greater than 50 years in the past. He used to stroll by it typically, and when he was a child he fell into the opening that was being dug for the pool.

“I can say I used to be one of many first ones on this gap that’s now a pool. For actual, I couldn’t get out,” Haley stated, laughing. “I am going manner again with the Parkwood Pool.”

Haley stated he was glad younger folks in his neighborhood can have one thing to do in the summertime.

“Particularly to individuals who don’t have entry to personal swimming pools, it’s rewarding to see that Mayor [Tyrone] Garner and the Unified Authorities have delivered after the hiatus to have it open and have this stunning leisure, athletic and, frankly, social swimming pool out there to all of Kansas Metropolis,” he stated.

Pauline Beggs, who lives down the road from Parkwood, stated she will probably be a frequent person of the pool this summer time. She has 5 grandchildren she babysits in the course of the day; earlier than she knew Parkwood was reopening, she anxious about the place to take them.

“, to go to a pool now we have to go manner out on the opposite facet or go to Overland Park or go to Missouri and that is so good for the youngsters,” stated Beggs.

To employees Parkwood, the Unified Authorities of Wyandotte County and Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, signed a one-year contract with Midwest Pool Administration to employees and handle the pool. Brandon Stortz, a Midwest Pool Administration district supervisor, stated lifeguards from different services had been reassigned to employees Parkwood.

“It’s been a problem, getting lifeguards, as it’s in every single place. We’ve been very lucky to get our swimming pools staffed,” he stated.

Stortz stated Midwest Pool Administration presents a lifeguard certification course which is free for individuals who work at swimming pools in Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, and Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, however $180 for folks lifeguarding in different municipalities. Stortz stated the corporate is continuous to rent and prepare potential lifeguards.

“We took on this contract a short while in the past and so as a result of we function so many different services, we had been capable of get employees from different services. That manner we are able to preserve Parkwood up and going, now and for the remainder of the summer time,” he stated.

Whereas Saturday’s reopening was trigger for celebration, residents want swimmers had extra choices. Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, has greater than 150,000 residents, and Parkwood Pool is small. Beggs stated she needs to see higher entry to public swimming pools for everybody within the metropolis.

“They’ve obtained nice parks now however I believe they might use one other pool, as a result of we don’t have them,” she stated. “You look from right here to the Legends, there’s nothing. They used to have a method out that manner however they don’t anymore. So that is one thing beginning, I’m actually glad. Hopefully they’ll do extra for us.”

Williams agreed.

“Now, the inhabitants isn’t actually simply down right here within the metropolis; it’s in every single place and so yeah, we want two or three extra for certain,” stated Williams.

Parkwood’s common hours will probably be Tuesday–Saturday 12–6 p.m. and Sunday 2–6 p.m. The pool will probably be open on Memorial day 12–6 p.m. Admission is $1 per particular person.