Pool’s Out for the Summer

Two of the three public swimming pools in Fayette County will be closed this summer.

The City of Schulenburg and the City of La Grange decided to close their public pools this summer. The Flatonia Public Pool at McWhirter Park will open on Saturday, May 25.

You can always swim in the Colorado River for free. Otherwise, those wanting to take a dip will have to join the Country Club or access a private pool.

La Grange City Council voted unanimously to close their public pool this summer at their meeting on Monday following a recommendation from City Recreation Director Janet Rangel. Rangel gave a variety of reasons for closing the pool: from broken pumps to lack of lifeguards. In addition, she said that ever since the City removed amenities like the slides, diving board and kiddie pool, fewer people want to use the pool.

“It’s just a body of water,” she said.

Rangel said regulations require four lifeguards on duty when the pool is open, but she has only been able to recruit two. Furthermore, Rangel said City staff recently discovered that the pool’s pumps no longer work and need immediate replacement, along with sand filters.

“Are we going to potentially do two evaluations: one for the cost of rehab and bringing it up to code and one to close it permanently?” asked Councilman Ken Taylor.

“How about a third, to build a new one?” asked Councilwoman Kathy Weishuhn.

“We’ll bring you several options,” said City Manager Jack Thompson.

The Schulenburg pool had been open for the Sharks Swim Team this season. The Schulenburg High School physics class held their annual cardboard boat test day at the pool on Monday, May 13. Schulenburg City Manager Tami Walker said the City will shut down the pool after Sharks’ season closes. It will be closed to the public for the summer.

“It is hard to have three to four guards on duty,” Walker said. “A shortfall of staffing was hard to overcome and explaining to the public why the pool was not open. Our local students have been beneficial to employ, but their summer workouts and (school athletics) two-a-days has also caused us to close the last week of July.”

Furthermore, Walker said competition from Splashway Waterpark in Sheridan has decreased the number of patrons at the pool during the summer.

“Secondly, and most important is from a health and safety standpoint – the pool is showing its age,” Walker said. “The pool’s infrastructure provides issues that are a temporary fix that is an ongoing challenge. … Those expenses alone are costly ones.”

Walker said the City of Schulenburg will pursue a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to update the pool and other park facilities.

That leaves the pool in Flatonia as the only public swimming facility open this summer.

The Flatonia pool is located in WcWhirter Park at 1135 E. US Hwy. 90. It will open on Saturday, May 25. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-7 p.m. Admission is $4; kids 3 and under get in free; seniors 65 and up get in for $3. The pool also offers several season pass options: $35 for an individual, $75 for a family of four and $135 for a group of 12.