Fort Scott swimming pool season ends

Saturday, August 8, 2009
Local youths enjoy the Fort Scott Municipal Pool Friday afternoon as the heat index approached 105 degrees. The pool will be closing for the season Aug. 9 and will reopen May 31, 2010. --Michael Pommier/Herald-Tribune

As the first day of school draws near, residents are getting final taste of summer at the pool.

August 9 marks the final day of operation for the Fort Scott Municipal Pool this summer. According the pool manager Staci Sinn, the pool closes shortly before the start of school because the lifeguards staff is made up of local high school and college students. Because the lifeguards are students, it poses a challenge to keep an adequate amount of supervision.

Fort Scott Director of Human Resources Bob Johnson said the city has attempted in the past to keep the pool open after the start of school, however attendance was not high enough sustain the longer schedule. Johnson also mentioned a previous attempt to hire adults as lifeguards to keep the facility open longer, however there was not enough interest.

Sinn said the pool will reopen on Memorial Day, May 31.

In Nevada, Walton Aquatic Center will be open daily through Aug. 19, plus the following weekend.