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鈥檚 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鈥檛 have specific numbers yet, all are reporting increases in attendance over last season.
鈥淭his is my fifth year, and we鈥檝e never had numbers like this,鈥� 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. 鈥淲e normally have a third pool in Carmichaels, but it鈥檚 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鈥檚 pace,鈥� he said.
With a capacity of 500 at the Waynesburg park, Moore said 鈥渨e were seeing 400 to 500 people on 90-degree days.
Christina Hollandsworth, pool director at Canonsburg Town Park Pool, said, 鈥淚鈥檇 say last year we鈥檇 reach 200 to 300 people on nice days and we are probably up to 350 to 400 people at this point.鈥� On the Fourth of July, when the temperature hit 88 degrees 鈥� and admission was free 鈥� the pool reached capacity.
At Washington Park Pool, June saw 4,300 visitors, more than twice the number during the same period in 2023.
鈥淟ast summer, it didn鈥檛 get hot until mid- to- late June, then the smoke came down (from Canada鈥檚 fires) so we had Code Red air quality,鈥� said DeAnna Martin, Washington鈥檚 park director. 鈥淏y the time it did get hot, if we went Code Red, we closed. June, historically speaking, is our best month, and last year鈥檚 June was not the best month for us.鈥�
Chris Biswick, aquatics supervisor at Upper St. Clair鈥檚 Community and Recreation Center, said their numbers are also higher.
鈥淓ven after the Fourth of July, we are getting memberships, mainly for the outdoor pool,鈥� he said. Members also have access to the indoor pool, which is steps away from the outdoor pool. 鈥淲e tend to get less memberships after Memorial Day; however, we have been steady.鈥�
Likewise, David Donnellan, Director of Recreation for Mt. Lebanon Township, said Mt. Lebanon Swim Center鈥檚 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. 鈥淚鈥檓 constantly saying, 鈥楳ake sure you put on sunscreen, make sure you get in the water to cool down, make sure you are drinking.鈥� I kind of 鈥榤om鈥� them as well,鈥� she said.
鈥淟ifeguards are based on the square footage of your pool,鈥� noted Washington Park鈥檚 Martin. 鈥淎nd we would boost it by one so that the lifeguards were having a break more often 鈥� to give them some reprieve from the heat.鈥�
At Mt. Lebanon Swim Center, Donnellan said they try to give lifeguards more opportunities to get in the water to cool off. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
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. 鈥淔or some reason, in Greene County, we have been very lucky. We鈥檝e had plenty of guards,鈥� he said.
Similarly, 鈥淲ith the increased number of people, we try to increase our staff,鈥� said Kelly, of the Flatwoods pool.
Concession stand sales also have been brisk.
鈥淚 think I was at Sam鈥檚 Club everyday,鈥� said Martin of the hot days in June.
And Moore said the Greene County venues鈥� concessions have been 鈥渟ky high.鈥�
鈥淲e are doing great with slushies and ice cream.鈥�