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New Carlisle pool a big  splash with community

Attendance is the best in years, officials report

Photos: New Carlisle pool thriving

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer Updated 9:26 AM Monday, July 12, 2010

Business is brisk at the New Carlisle City Pool, with the best attendance and profits the facility has made in years, officials said.

Val Herdman, one of three city pool managers, said it’s the best year the pool has had in the eight years she’s been there.

And the summer is only half over.

The progress is especially significant because the pool has rebounded from a year of shutdown for repairs in 2008. It reopened last June.

“It was really detrimental when we were closed that one year,” Herdman recalled. “It broke my heart and it broke the kids’ hearts. This is a community pool.”

Total profit numbers for the pool haven’t yet been calculated, but city service director Howard Kitko said revenue should be significantly higher than last year.

In 2009, the pool sold 105 season passes total for two-year access to the facility. This year, they’ve already sold 30 just for one year, Kitko said, adding that the pool will remain opened until Labor Day weekend.

And the passes don’t include many of the 75 to 100 people who come to the pool daily with pool passes. Many come from out-of-county places like Fairborn and Huber Heights.

On really hot days — which have been plentiful this summer and are a boon to pool attendance — there can be 150 to 200 people taking advantage of the baby pool and 8,500-square-foot pool for older kids and adults.

Marsha Calhoun and her mother, Janet Berry, bring Calhoun’s kids to the pool to play and cool off, including Calhoun’s six-year-old special needs son, Austin.

“It’s just wonderful here,” Calhoun said, as Berry nodded and praised the affordable prices.

Jeanna Bainbridge brings her kids and their friends to the pool at least a couple times a week.

They’ve tried other pools, Bainbridge said, but the kids really enjoy themselves in New Carlisle.

“I really like swimming and doing flips under the water,” said Leah Bainbridge, 7.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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