The school year is ending and pools are opening up around the county.
Franklin Family Aquatic Center opens at 11 a.m. Saturday and the new spray park in Youngs Creek Park will officially open with a ribbon cutting Friday. Edinburgh Aquatic Center will both open Memorial Day weekend.
Greenwood’s Freedom Springs Aquatic Park has not determined an opening date yet, though city officials expect to announce it in the coming week.
Kendall Ayers, Franklin’s aquatics coordinator, is excited to see families come out to enjoy the water, he said. Franklin Family Aquatic Center didn’t receive any major updates since last year, but families can enjoy a new experience with the Spray Park at Youngs Creek Park.
“It is like a normal jungle gym playground with water features, there’s a mini dump bucket that will drop on some of the kids and the dump bucket is activated by pressing a button,” Ayers said.
Along with the mini dump bucket, there are sprays throughout the playground for the kids to get soaked, Ayers said.
The Spray Park is the city’s first splash pad, and since it is inside Youngs Creek Park, the amenity is free to the public.
Families will be welcomed back to the Edinburgh Aquatic Center at noon on May 28.
A few maintenance items were completed over the summer to get ready for this season at Freedom Springs, said Rob Taggart, Greenwood’s parks director.
“With very little [COVID-19] guidelines, we are looking forward to seeing this summer look more back to normal, we’re making sure the facility is up to date and is cleaned once guests arrive,” Taggart said.
With plenty of people enjoying other city parks this year, Taggart is hoping Freedom Springs will see a similar trend.
“I am looking forward to seeing the success Freedom Spring will have for 2022, it is a clean, safe and entertaining place for all ages,” Taggart said.
Edinburgh Aquatic Center is ready for the summer with $70,000 in renovations complete. Since last season, a renovation was finished for the pool house at the facility, including making restrooms ADA compliant and updating the office area, said Dan Cartwright, town manager. The pool itself is expected to be updated in coming years, he said.
With COVID-19 in a low community spread category pools around the county will be back to normal and plenty of activities are scheduled.
Franklin Family Aquatic Center will bring back free pool events such as a free “dive-in” movie and pool party on June 2 and Free Family Swim Nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays in June and July. During Father’s Day at the Pool, fathers will get in for free, Ayers said.
All of Freedom Springs’ events, including dive-in movie screenings and adults-only nights will be back.
Edinburgh’s aquatic center also offers programs, such as Aqua Zumba, which will start June 1.
Each pool additionally offers season passes and swim lessons.
