Pool on track for spring opening{gallery}02_09_10/poolcarrie{/gallery}Powell Aquatic Director Carrie Parmer smiles during a Friday tour of the pool's mechanical room, where water will be circulated through the sand filters behind her. Sletten Construction and subcontractor crews are completing work on the $9.25-million facility, which is slated to open this spring. Tribune photo by Carla Wensky Pool on track for spring opening Gearing up for a spring opening, the Powell Aquatic Center announced its membership rates, hours and program schedule. The exact date for the pool's grand opening depends on how construction progresses in the final weeks, but city leaders hope it will be ready to go in early April.

In the spring program schedule, swim lessons and youth programs are slated to begin April 6. Several adult exercise classes are scheduled to begin April 19.

“We're hoping to be able to move forward with the class schedule that we have,” said Carrie Parmer, aquatic director. “Everyone is working really hard.”

If the pool isn't ready by the April 6 starting date for swim lessons, the courses will be pro-rated, Parmer said.

The spring schedule includes courses in water Pilates, an aquatic course for people with arthritis, safety training for swim coaches and an end-of-school bash in May.

“We'll be offering a full scope of Red Cross classes also,” Parmer told the Powell City Council last week.

In addition to the program schedule, Parmer discussed rates with councilmen.

“I've had a lot of people ask me how much it's going to cost,” said Councilman Don Hillman.

Annual membership rates start at $100 for youth, $125 for seniors over 60 and $175 for adults. Daily admission is $3 for youth and seniors. The adult rate is $4 per day. Punch cards and discounts for families are available. (See related graphic.)

Before setting Powell's rates, Parmer said she researched rates at aquatic centers throughout the Rocky Mountain region. She also looked at facilities on the East and West coasts in towns comparable to the size of Powell.

“We did a ton of research,” Parmer said.

Compared to other aquatic centers, the rates are competitive, she said.

“I think that they're really fair,” Parmer told the council.

By swimming twice a week with an annual membership, it cuts the cost to less than half of what it would cost under the daily rate, Parmer noted.

Members can make monthly payments for annual memberships, which amount to $10.42 per month for a senior, $14.58 for adults and $31.25 for a family of four.

Parmer said the intent was to keep rates affordable while also supporting the facility.

The pools hours are 5:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday.

Annual members will be issued a personalized key fob, which will be scanned at the pool's entrance. The electronic system also will help the city track attendance over the pool's first year.

Though the daily and annual rates for the community are set, the city is still negotiating rates with Park County School District No. 1. The school district will use the pool for its swim teams' practices, meets and swim classes.

The city also will negotiate rates with the Powell Swim Club and Northwest College.

For the first time in decades, Northwest College will offer swimming courses for its students. In his 26 years at the college, swimming hasn't been offered, said Floyd Young, chairperson for the college's Life, Health Science and Agriculture Division.

Students majoring in physical education were at a disadvantage when they transferred to universities because they lacked swimming experience, Young said.

“They've got to be able to teach swimming,” he said.

For the fall 2010 semester, NWC plans to offer beginning and intermediate swimming courses, water aerobics and physical education classes that teach students how to instruct swim lessons.

“We're really excited” to offer swimming courses, Young said. Young also is a Powell city councilman, and said he believes the agreement will work well for Northwest College and the city of Powell.

“I anticipate it will be good,” he said.

Brochures with rates and course information will be sent to local residences this month, Parmer said.

For more information, visit www.powellaquatics.com.