ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 25, 1996 TAG: 9605280006
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TRACY WHITAKER STAFF WRITER
Though many New River Valley outdoor pools will reopen this Memorial Day weekend, Montgomery County's remains a month or more in the coming.
The pool at the Mid-County Park across from the Corning Inc. plant and the New River Valley Mall has been closed for two years, ever since a faulty underground valve and hard winter weather led to serious damage of the 1970s-era pool. That former structure has been removed.
According to Tom Bain, Montgomery County's parks and recreation director, it will be worth the wait. Bain and his staff are shooting for a late-June opening, but that's dependent on the construction schedule.
"We have some new features that we hope folks will really enjoy," Bain said.
The new, nontraditional "leisure pool" will be a splashing child's dream. It will feature a giant frog whose big red tongue is a sliding board, a two-tube water slide, a giant mushroom with cascading water and, at the middle of the pool, a 20-foot diameter island with palm trees.
In the baby pool, a little whale will squirt water from his blowhole. Geysers at the entrances to the main pool and the baby pool will send streams of water into the air. A sand volleyball court has been constructed inside the pool area.
For more information, call the pool supervisor, Terry Caldwell at 382-6977, or Tom Bain at 382-6976.
Details on area pools opening soon (or already open for indoor facilities) include:
Montgomery County
Blacksburg Municipal Pool, Graves Avenue, June 15 to Aug. 18, Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is 75 cents or $6.50 for 10 visits for children 3-14, and $1 or $8.50 for 10 visits for 15 and older. 961-1103.
Blacksburg Aquatic Center, Patrick Henry Drive, open all year. Many activities and lessons. Hot tub. Admission is $2 for adults, $1.50 for seniors 65 and older, and $1.50 for children 3-14. Children under 3 are free. 961-1852.
Alta Mons Methodist Camp, 6 1/2 miles off U.S. 11 on Virginia 637 near Shawsville. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Saturday hours will be 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday hours will be 1 to 6 p.m. Admission is $2 per person; no charge for children younger than 6 when accompanied by an adult. New pool is junior Olympic size and baby pool is separate. 268-2409.
Virginia Tech's War Memorial Pool, on the Virginia Tech campus is open year-round for students, faculty members and their families. Two guests per person are allowed. During summer session, hours will be Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and 6:30-8:30 p.m. 231-5884.
Montgomery County Department of Parks and Recreation Pool, off U.S. 460 across from Corning. Opening summer of 1996. Hours will be noon-6 p.m. daily. Admission is $1, preschool, $1.50, students and adults, $1 for seniors. Family season pass is $200; individual season pass is $75. Pool is available for groups after 6 p.m., $40 per hour for 50 people and includes two lifeguards. Swim classes are available. 382-6981.
Radford
Radford Department of Parks and Recreation Pool, Bisset Park, Norwood Street. Open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m., and Monday-Thursday, evening swim, 7-8:30 p.m., Friday, 7-11 p.m., pool is available for private parties only, Saturday and Sunday, 1-8:30 p.m.
Daily charge is $1.25 for adults and $1 for children. Evening swim is 75 cents for adults and 50 cents for children.
Swimming classes for all ages are offered, and the pool may be booked for private parties. 731-3633.
Radford University has two pools: the Dedmon Center Natatorium and the
Peters Hall Pool. The pool at the Dedmon Center is open year-round to Radford University students, faculty and family members and some members of the athletic association. 831-5240.
The Peters Hall Pool is open year-round to students and faculty on a limited basis. The pool is primarily used in the university's academic program and is contracted out to various organizations. 831-5297.
Pulaski County
The Hensel Eckman YMCA Pool on Oakhurst Avenue near Pulaski Middle School is open to the public year-round.
YMCA members are admitted free with a membership card. Cost for nonmembers is $3 for children, $5 for adults and $10 for a family per visit. On Sundays, the charge is $5 for a family, $3 for adults and $2 for children. 980-3671.
Giles County
The Wolf Creek Park swimming hole on Park Drive in Narrows will be open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The swimming area is open to the public during park hours, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission to the park and swimming are free. Picnic shelters are $60 a day or $30 for a half day. Picnic tables rent for $1 an hour or $5 a day. 726-2423.
Pearisburg Municipal Pool, Wenonah Avenue, will open Memorial Day weekend and close Labor Day weekend. The pool is open to the public. For admission, prices and hours, call 921-3527.
Castle Rock Golf and Recreation , on Virginia 626 off U.S. 460 in Pembroke, plans to open Memorial Day weekend, noon to 6 p.m. daily. The pool is open to the public, admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children 12 and younger. Swimming classes may be offered, and the pool is available for private parties from 6 p.m. to dusk. 626-7276.
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