Back with a splash

After a year dormant due to the pandemic, the Colfax Pool is back open for the 2021 season. Sunny skies and high temperatures have helped keep the pool full, even as summer just gets started.

“With the weather being as warm as it has been here, we have had really good numbers to start the year,” pool manager Jim Earles said. “It has been really positive so far.”

Earles thinks part of the good turnout might go along with the old saying “you don’t appreciate what you got until it’s gone.” With the pool closed for business last year, the public had a chance to realize what a summer is like without being able to cool down close to home.

“People taking advantage, seeing how much they actually missed it last year and taking advantage early this year, especially with the warm weather,” Earles said. “We’ve had really good turnouts every day.”

It took a little work to get the pool back up and running after a full year off. Repairs to the drains in the baby pool and deep end needed to be completed and were done just in the knick of time.

“They cut it close but we got it done in time, with about a week to spare,” Earles said.

The area around the pool is also undergoing some changes with the construction work at the school. While the city council was concerned about what all of the work would mean for the spaces in and around the pool, Earles said it hasn’t been too much of an issue so far.

“Really the only thing we have noticed is when they are moving the dirt, there is a dust cloud and we just have to hope the wind isn’t from the north to bring it our way. I haven’t had a whole lot of complaints that the deck is a mess or anything like that,” Earles said. “It’s not bad and hopefully, I noticed they have started to plant some grass where they were moving dirt, so hopefully that’s over with and starting to wrap up where they are doing so much dirt moving.”

Like many businesses, the pool is also struggling to staff its open hours with the lifeguard count going from a typical year of 20 to 25 down to 13 this year. Due to this, group swimming lessons will not be offered in Colfax.

“We normally offer group lessons. With the pandemic last year, I didn’t know how many guards I was going to have. Normally, I have about 20 to 25 guards and that barely makes it work with group lessons because I basically have to have all hands on deck,” Earles said. “Hopefully next year we will be back to group lessons.”

Private lessons are available but with the short supply of lifeguards, it is hard for the staff to fill all of the requests.

“So a lot of people may not get reached, which is unfortunate because the kids still need swim lessons,” Earles said.

The pool is offering adult water aerobics from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings. At the same time, lap swimming is also available with a couple of lanes open each night.

“We had a really good turnout, had 20 show up for that (Tuesday night),” Earles said.

No rate increases were made for this year with admission still $3 for kids four to 17 and $4.50 for those 18 and older. The pool is also available for parties from 7 to 9 p.m. on the weekend at $125 for up to 30 swimmers and $25 for every additional 10 people.

Earles said they are also looking at having a pet night at the end of the season, potentially the final day the pool has water in it. The idea is still under discussion and would need to take place after the school uses the pool for gym class.

For now, with the weather reaching 90 on almost a daily basis, the pool is once again a popular place to stay cool and have some fun.

“Everything is going great. If you feel like coming over and taking advantage of the pool, it is a great time to do it,” Earles said. “The weather has been hot and the water is about 85 degrees, about perfect.”

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com