Water park almost ready for season
Ashley Helmstaedter, program and aquatic manager at Alameda Waterpark, and a maintenance crew of three are working to get the water park ready for its opening June 3.
The pool was renamed a water park with the addition of the splash pad in 2015, an area with no standing water but containing features such as a pirate ship, a water sprayer and two dumping buckets.
“It's proved fairly popular,” said Helmstaedter.
She said the pool itself has already been drained and refilled.
“We are balancing the water to make sure it is ready and doing just basic maintenance,” she said.
Once the area opens, it will be available from noon to 7 p.m. seven days a week, weather permitting.
Pool patrons have the option to buy an early admissions pass that allows holders to enter the pool area at noon. Regular visitors will be admitted at 12:15 p.m.
Helmstaedter said early admission passes can be bought at the park office.
She's also lining up the 30 lifeguards that will be working to keep the pool's annual 31,000 visitors safe.
Head lifeguard Maggie Calvert said 10 lifeguards will be on duty at all times the pool is open.
“All are Red Cross-certified life guard trained, as well as first-aid and CPR-certified,” Calvert said.
“We deal with injuries all the time. It's a big facility. The important thing is staying level-headed and keeping calm,” Calvert said.
Calvert's crew will be busy this summer because the pool has a series of promotions and special events planned, said Helmstaedter.
There will be a series of Moonlight Swims in which a screen will be set up on the pool deck, and swimmers can watch a movie while bobbing in the water, she said. These events will run from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. every other Friday beginning June 23 when the movie will be the animated comedy “Norm of the North.” Helmstaedter said there is a fee for the Moonlight Swims.
The pool will close at 5 p.m. June 15 and 22 for Alameda Gators swim team home meets.
And, she noted, while the water park may close for the season Aug. 27 for humans, the Doggie Swim Day returns from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 10 when owners can bring their canine companions out for a dip.
“That's been very popular, but we ask you bring proof of (dog) vaccination for admittance,” she said.
A different animal will be in the pool Sept. 24 when, as part of Alameda Septemberfest, fish will be placed in the pool for a youth fishing derby.
“We stop chlorinating the pool at the beginning of September,” she said. “That's to protect the dogs' skin. By Sept. 24, the water won't hurt the fish.
In addition, all summer Alameda Waterpark will offer group swim lessons, private swim lessons, adult swim lessons, a competitive swim team, CPR classes, private pool parties, and birthday party packages.
Here is information about swimming pools in Butler County:ALAMEDA WATERPARKAddress: 184 Alameda Park Road, ButlerTelephone: 724-284-5384Website: www.co.butler.pa.us/Parks-and-Rec-alameda-poolHours: Noon to 7 p.m. daily June 3 through Aug. 27, weather permitting. The pool will close at 5 p.m. on some Thursdays for swim meets.Daily admission: $6. Cost is $3 after 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, excluding holidays. Ages 2 and younger are admitted free.The regular season membership fee is $225 for a family of up to four people, $110 for single adults, and $80 for senior citizens. Families of more than four will pay $280.BUTLER FAMILY YMCAAddress: 339 N. Washington St., ButlerTelephone: 724-287-4733Website: www.bcfymca.orgHours: 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. SundaysDaily admission: $9 for adults, $4 for youths 6 to 18 and still in high school, and free for children 5 and younger accompanied by an adult; all swimmers up to age 17 must be accompanied by a member.CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY WATER PARKAddress: 450 North Boundary Park Drive, Cranberry TownshipTelephone: 724-779-4386Website: www.cranberrytownship.org/146/WaterparkHours: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. Members may enter at 11:15 a.m.Daily admission: $8 for township residents, $12 for nonresidents. After 6 p.m., cost is $5 for residents, $6 for nonresidents. Children younger than 2 are admitted free; children age 2 to 12 are: residents $7, nonresidents $10. Seniors age 55 and older are: residents $7, nonresidents $10.The regular season membership fee is $285 for a family of up to four people, $105 for single adults, and $85 for senior citizens age 55 and older. Families of more than four will pay $335.EDCO PARK POOLAddress: 154 W. Main St., Evans CityTelephone: 724-538-8920Website: www.edcopark.comHours: Open May 26 through Sept. 4 daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.Daily admission: $6; $4 for senior citizens and children ages 2 to 4. Babies age 1 and younger are admitted free. After 6 p.m., cost is $4 for adults and $2 for seniors and children.Membership passes available.PENN VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB (PRIVATE)Address: 6135 Monroe Road, Penn TownshipTelephone: 724-602-9373Website: www.pennvalleyac.comHours: Open noon to 8 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, seven days a week with extended hours on Fridays until 9:30 p.m.Daily admission: Memberships and parties for guests are available. For more information, call 724-602-9373, check the website or send email to pvacpool@gmail.com.SEBCO POOLAddress: 311 Hannahstown Road, CabotTelephone: 724-352-3213Website: www.sebcopool.comHours: Noon to 8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor DayDaily admission: $8 per person before 4 p.m.; or $5 per person after 4 p.m. Children younger than 2 are admitted free. Five-day punch passes are available to guests of pass holders for $20; members of the general public pay $30 for a five-day punch pass.The regular season membership fee is $320 for a family of four or more, $160 for single adults, and $100 for senior citizens age 55 and older.SEVEN FIELDS TOWN PARK POOLAddress: 390 Castle Creek Drive, Community Park, Seven FieldsTelephone: 724-776-3090Hours: Starting June 2, hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. From May 30 to June 1, hours are 4 to 8 p.m. From Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, hours are 4 to 8 p.m. The pool closes Labor Day weekend.Daily admission: For residents: $7 for adults, $5 for children between ages 3 and 17, and $5 for senior citizens older than 60. For nonresidents: $10 for adults, $7 for children and $7 for senior citizens.Memberships for borough residents are $210 for a family of four, $240 for family of five or more, $75 for single adults and $60 for senior citizens.Memberships for nonresidents are $275 for family of four, $100 for single adults and $85 senior citizens.Children younger than 3 are admitted free for both residents and nonresidents.For more information on the various membership plans, call the office.SRU AEBERSOLD RECREATION CENTERAddress: Slippery Rock UniversityTelephone: 724-738-4800Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. SundaysDaily admission: $8. Call for membership information; prices vary.YMCA CAMP/ARMCO PARKAddress: 341 Centerville Pike, Slippery RockTelephone: 724-794-1108Hours: For pool and splash pad: Memorial Day weekend from noon to 7 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Open for the season on June 3 from noon to 7 p.m. daily. Pool closes Aug. 20.Daily admission: Butler and Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA members and BAEA members are admitted free. Nonmembers pay $5; those age 2 and younger are free.Season passes are available at the Butler YMCA or at the park: $125 for a family of four, $15 for each additional member; $90 for adults; and $80 for youth ages 3 to 17. Children ages 2 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult.ZELIENOPLE/HARMONY COMMUNITY POOLAddress: East Beaver Street, ZelienopleTelephone: 724-452-5208Website: www.myzeliepark.orgHours: Noon to 8 p.m. Memorial Day weekend. The pool will be closed from May 30 to June 2. The pool opens for the summer June 3 and closes Sept. 4; hours during the summer period are noon to 8 p.m. daily.Daily admission: $5 Mondays through Fridays and $6 Saturdays and Sundays. Baby pool admission is $3 Mondays through Fridays and $4 Saturdays and Sundays. Ages 70 and older admitted free.Membership rates available at the website or via email to zelienoplecommunitypark@gmail.com.
