Sidney Aquatic Center ready for opening day

In just a few days, the long wait for the Sidney Aquatic Center to be open to the public will be over.

"I'm glad we're finally at this point, said Tom Von Seggern, park superintendent for the City of Sidney. "It's been a long haul."

The $5.4 million Sidney Aquatic Center began construction in August last year, replacing the established pool after nearly 40 years of service.

The new facility contains a 3,400-square-foot six-lane competition pool with accomodations for water polo, basketball and volleyball, a 2,100-square-foot leisure pool featuring a 90-foot lazy river, five deck geysers and a 20-foot slide.

There are also changing areas and a concessions stand at the aquatic center.

Monday afternoon was the final state inspection on the facility prior to opening, which Von Seggern said they passed.

"So we are ready to go," he said.

Also on Monday, Von Seggern had a few of the center's lifeguards assisting in clearing the pools of dirt that came in during the windy weekend.

"We're going to be fighting that all summer until we get some grass growing and landscaping finished," he said. "We ask the public to be patient with us."

Erin Bown, 19, has been a lifeguard with the City of Sidney for the last four years.

"This is my fifth year," Bown said.

Bown said she is excited for the new facility, but acknowledged that the increased amenities from the previous pool will pose some new challenges for her and her fellow lifeguards.

"We'll have to keep an extra eye out, especially with the slide," she said. "And there's a lot more area we have to cover out here."

The Sidney Aquatic Center will feature 14 lifeguards, all Red Cross trained and certified, on rotating shifts.

Bown described being a lifeguard as "a fun summer job."

"It has flexible hours and I can still have time on the weekends," she said.

As opening day fast approaches, Bown said she can not wait to see the public's reaction to the new facility.

"I think they will really like this new pool," she said.

A private preview of the Sidney Aquatic Center will be held this Thursday for donors who helped fund the new facility. The special donor recognition preview will begin with open swimming and tours at 5 p.m., followed by a short program at 6 p.m. to introduce the new staff. The event will last through 8 p.m.

The official opening will be this Friday, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, as long as the weather allow it.

"It'll be open at noon for the lap swimmers for an hour, and then at 1 p.m. we'll open for everything else," Von Seggern said.

Public swimming will be daily from 1 to 5 p.m., with night swimming available from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Adult lap swimming will be Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m. and again from 5 to 6 p.m.

Daily admission for children 5 years and under and seniors 62 years and older is $3, youth between 6 and 18 years is $4, adults from 18 to 61 years old is $5. Season passes for individuals and families are also available.

More information on the prices and services available at the Sidney Aquatic Center can be found on the City of Sidney's website at cityofsidney.org.