Leisure pool opening with big splash

The Town of Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department is opening its new indoor leisure pool with a big splash - a weeklong grand-opening celebration!

The new pool that everyone has been waiting for is located inside the Castle Rock Recreation Center, 2301 N. Woodlands Blvd.

The grand-opening celebration kicks off Monday, May 15, with four full days of free swimming. Pool hours for those first four opening days are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The weeklong celebration culminates on Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20, with the grand finale - two days of free swimming, plus prize drawings, games and entertainment for all ages. Pool hours during the finale bash are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Space is limited in the leisure pool area, but parks and recreation staff have fun and games planned throughout both days for those waiting for their turn to dive in.

The new indoor leisure pool is a warm 87 degrees and has something for everyone. Young children will enjoy the zero-depth entry, as well as the geysers and slide on the interactive play feature. Children who are tall enough and brave enough can choose between two giant slides, one a thrilling body slide and the other a more leisurely tube slide. Although the slides are located outside the building, they are enclosed and the heated water makes it possible to slide even on the coldest days of winter. The new leisure pool also features a lazy river and a swim-lesson and multi-use area for water aerobics. A new whirlpool and new steam room adjacent to the leisure pool also are opening to the public for the first time during the grand-opening celebration.

The $6.6 million recreation center improvement project approved by Town Council in March 2005 will be paid for with equity that has built up over time in the current Recreation Center property. The financing is similar to a home equity loan and is expected to be paid off in about seven years. No tax increase was needed to pay for the improvements.

Funding for expansion-related programs and associated personnel and supplies was made possible by voter approval in November of Measure 2A, which lifts TABOR revenue limits for five years.

The latest Recreation Center enhancements are the direct result of citizen requests and comments collected at the recreation center, at public gatherings and from survey responses.

Additional recreation center enhancements over the past two years have included a remodeled and expanded circuit room, free-weight room, cardiovascular area, fitness studio, family changing room, and toddler wing. Today, the Castle Rock Recreation Center boasts not only more functional space, but state-of-the art fitness equipment, larger workout areas and a larger toddler area.

For more information about the new indoor leisure pool grand-opening celebration and the schedule of activities on May 19 and May 20, please visit the Town of Castle Rock web site, www.crgov.com/recreation, and click on Leisure Pool.

Kathy Anderson is the marketing director for the Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department.