City Pool Reopening Celebration Set For Saturday

    An energy not seen in many years, or even decades, has arrived at the City of Umatilla’s city pool complex. The pool is just reopening for its first full summer season after undergoing an extensive rehabilitation over the last two years, and the public is being invited to a special open house this coming Saturday to help celebrate the improvements.
    The city has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the complex, rebuilding the pool from the plumbing up, upgrading its decking surfaces, rehabbing its bathhouse, installing new fencing, and even repaving its parking lot. What was once a facility that had declined to the point the city actually considered closing it permanently; the pool today is a sparkling addition to the city’s recreational holdings.
    Additionally, the city has invested in a team of lifeguards that dwarfs its past staffing levels, and will allow the pool to be open for much longer periods than in the past. The city on Monday released a schedule that shows the pool open from noon until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The pool is an open swim facility except from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, when lap swim is featured for those looking for a more purposeful experience.
    City residents enjoy discounted costs to swim, with children up to age 12 costing just $2 per use. Ages 12 to 18 are $4, and adults are $5. Non-city residents pay $1 more at each age level. Season passes are available for city residents for just $35, with non-residents able to get a season pass for $50.
    The pool’s rejuvenation has drawn support from beyond the city, also. Lowe’s Home Improvement recently gifted the pool a grant that brought new paint, fixtures, and more to the pool bathhouse facility, and this week United Southern Bank, via a partnership with the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce, donated six lounge chairs to the pool that will allow users the ability to relax in between swims.
    “The Umatilla pool is a great asset for the city in providing both community recreation and learn-to-swim programs,” said Greg Nelson, President and CEO of USB, who was a standout swimmer at Umatilla High School, which uses the pool during its season. “The renovation looks great and United Southern Bank is proud to provide the pool chairs to put the finishing touches on the project. The chairs are quite an improvement over the hot concrete we had to sit on as kids when getting out of the pool! You only did that once before learning to pour pool water on your sitting spot before plopping down!”
    This coming Saturday, June 11, the city will host an open house from 9:30 - 11 a.m., which will feature refreshments, music, and the opportunity to check out the facility’s upgrades. Open swim will follow at 11 a.m.
    The Umatilla City Pool is located along SR 19 in downtown Umatilla, across from the Umatilla Post Office.