Chilling out: Attendance soars at area pools
Area swimming pools are making a big splash this summer as folks look for ways to cool off in the summer’s record-breaking heat.
AccuWeather recorded five days in June and nine through mid-July when temperatures hit the 90-degree mark in Southwestern Pennsylvania. While most pools don’t have specific numbers yet, all are reporting increases in attendance over last season.
“This is my fifth year, and we’ve never had numbers like this,” Bret Moore, director of parks and recreation for Greene County, said of attendance at Greene County Water Park in Waynesburg and Mon View Pool in Greensboro. “We normally have a third pool in Carmichaels, but it’s under repair this summer; we are probably going to match our total for three pools with only two operating and we are well ahead of last year’s pace,” he said.
With a capacity of 500 at the Waynesburg park, Moore said “we were seeing 400 to 500 people on 90-degree days.
Christina Hollandsworth, pool director at Canonsburg Town Park Pool, said, “I’d say last year we’d reach 200 to 300 people on nice days and we are probably up to 350 to 400 people at this point.” On the Fourth of July, when the temperature hit 88 degrees – and admission was free – the pool reached capacity.
At Washington Park Pool, June saw 4,300 visitors, more than twice the number during the same period in 2023.
“Last summer, it didn’t get hot until mid- to- late June, then the smoke came down (from Canada’s fires) so we had Code Red air quality,” said DeAnna Martin, Washington’s park director. “By the time it did get hot, if we went Code Red, we closed. June, historically speaking, is our best month, and last year’s June was not the best month for us.”
Chris Biswick, aquatics supervisor at Upper St. Clair’s Community and Recreation Center, said their numbers are also higher.
“Even after the Fourth of July, we are getting memberships, mainly for the outdoor pool,” he said. Members also have access to the indoor pool, which is steps away from the outdoor pool. “We tend to get less memberships after Memorial Day; however, we have been steady.”
Likewise, David Donnellan, Director of Recreation for Mt. Lebanon Township, said Mt. Lebanon Swim Center’s numbers have been higher by about 5,000 people as of July 18.
Flatwoods Community Pool in Franklin Township, Fayette County, is seeing higher numbers as well, according to township Supervisor Tim Kelly.
Despite the increased volume of guests and elevated temperatures, pool directors reported no health-related heat incidents, and continue to keep a close eye on staff as well as patrons.
Hollandsworth purchased 1,400 Popsicles for the Canonsburg lifeguards at the start of the summer. “I’m constantly saying, ‘Make sure you put on sunscreen, make sure you get in the water to cool down, make sure you are drinking.’ I kind of ‘mom’ them as well,” she said.
“Lifeguards are based on the square footage of your pool,” noted Washington Park’s Martin. “And we would boost it by one so that the lifeguards were having a break more often … to give them some reprieve from the heat.”
At Mt. Lebanon Swim Center, Donnellan said they try to give lifeguards more opportunities to get in the water to cool off. “We add some short adult swims and safety breaks on busier days to give the kids a rest and staff a chance to more closely inspect the pool.”
Moore, with the Greene County pools, said their strategy has been to shorten staff rotations so there are two or three extra lifeguards to decrease their time in the chair. “For some reason, in Greene County, we have been very lucky. We’ve had plenty of guards,” he said.
Similarly, “With the increased number of people, we try to increase our staff,” said Kelly, of the Flatwoods pool.
Concession stand sales also have been brisk.
“I think I was at Sam’s Club everyday,” said Martin of the hot days in June.
And Moore said the Greene County venues’ concessions have been “sky high.”
“We are doing great with slushies and ice cream.”