By Anne Levin
Memorial Day weekend is the traditional opening for Community Park Pool. But this year’s three-day holiday was a washout, prompting Princeton’s Department of Recreation to postpone the opening of swimming season until Saturday, May 30.
“The weather just didn’t cooperate,” said Director of Recreation Evan Moorhead, referring to the persistent rain and accompanying chill. “That little heat wave we had last week got everybody excited for summer. But between the air and water temperatures this weekend, which were actually frigid, it just was not conducive to having bodies in the water.”
The water was registering 65 degrees, not considered safe. “Usually by the time we get to July, that water is well into the eighties,” said Moorhead.
Once pool season gets underway, it will be open on weekends through June 14; the daily schedule begins on Friday, June 19 and runs through Monday, September 7, which is Labor Day.
Public swim hours are 12-8 p.m., Monday-Friday, once weekday hours start. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the pool opens at 11 a.m. And in early to mid-August, it will close at 7:30 p.m. as daylight begins to diminish.
Adult and Senior Lap Swim and Senior Dip Hours, for members only, are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. (9 a.m. opening on weekends and holidays). Kiddie pool hours, also for members only, are 10 a.m.-12 p.m. weekdays, and 9-11 a.m. on weekends and holidays. There are no morning kiddie pool hours or Adult and Senior Lap Swim and Senior Dip Hours on June 13 or July 22 and 23.
Membership is available to all Princeton residents and to nonresidents. Financial assistance is available to Princeton residents. Membership ranges from $230 for a non-resident senior (age 60 and older) to $420 for a resident family. Daily admission cards are also available.
It has been 16 years since the pool was refurbished. “We’re happy that people still refer to us as the new pool,” said Moorhead. “We put a lot of effort in to make sure it looks beautiful and operates well, and it’s really a year-round effort. We’re programmed from basically daybreak to dusk every day during the season.”
With Labor Day falling late this year on September 7, it has been a challenge dealing with scheduling for the final week. “School goes back into session the Monday before Labor Day, and all of our lifeguards are high school students,” said Moorhead. “That’s a full week we’d normally be open. It will hinder our ability to be open a full week. We’re looking at some sort of reduced schedule during the week and will provide updates when we can.”
A few initiatives have been added over the years, but the pool is essentially unchanged since last season. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Moorhead. “This year we will bring back the water polo clinic in August. But the pool itself is the same — that everybody loves and will continue to love.”
For more information, visit princetonnj.gov.