Aquatic Center ends season on high note

Sidney Aquatic Center concluded its summer season on a high note.

“This seems to be quite a popular place to be,” Director Kiersten Richards said. “The kids love it. Everybody’s sad that we’re closing for the season, but with school starting we don’t have many lifeguards left.”

More than 300 family passes were sold, Richards said, ranging from single adult and youth passes to seniors, as well.

“Our biggest day, I believe we had not quite 350 people. Not at the same time. Our capacity only holds 331,” she said. “I had 32 employees this year, from lifeguards to assistant managers, and our concessions staff.”

It was another fun season for the aquatic center, Richards said.

“They’re all fun,” she said. “It’s fun seeing the kids enjoy themselves and having something to do in the summer rather than being cooped up and playing video games.”

While high temperatures brought people to the center, as well as Sidney’s day care centers and Cool Kids Club, it was also a concern.

“It was a very hot summer,” Richards said. “My lifeguards, it was a little brutal for them sometimes but we made sure they’re fully hydrated. We always have tons of water available for them, as well as popsicles.”

With the season ended, Richards is looking toward readying for next year’s season.

“We’ll probably get a little more shade and we might acquire some more chairs,” she said. “We’ve got some new umbrellas at the end of the season that we’ll be able to put out and we’re just going to go through my reports and what the staff thinks we can approve on, and adjust it from there.”

The aquatic center’s success is owed to the community, Richards said.

“I think this pool is one of the best things Sidney was able to do and provide for the community,” she said. “Not only does the community come, but we have people from outlying communities come.”

She added, “It was a fun summer.”