Rochester pools to reopen next week

After announcing on Wednesday that Soldiers Field Pool would be closing and Silver Lake Pool would be delaying opening to the public, the City of Rochester Parks and Recreation department says both pools will open on June 14.

The closing came after safety concerns — including fights, children being left unattended, disregard for pool rules, among other infractions — during a heatwave throughout southeast Minnesota.

On Thursday, the parks department says it is working with community partners to address the safety concerns that have arisen, prompting the future reopening with the use of extra staff and help of other community resources. 

The city’s plan includes additional staff and volunteers, community organizations who will visit the pools and interact with the participants, and Rochester Police Department School Resource Officers who will occasionally be at the pools to make sure participants have a safe and enjoyable experience. 

Registration for pool time is required and available beginning on June 11. Registering online in advance is recommended. 

Over the next few days, the Parks and Rec team will also address maintenance issues that were identified at Soldiers Field Pool within the first days of opening. 

“I want to thank the community for their patience as we have worked to provide a safe environment at both of the pools,” said Paul Widman, director of Parks and Rec. “We look forward to welcoming the community back and ask that everyone help us by following the guidelines and rules. Safety is our top priority.”

Catey Ackerman is a summer news intern for Med City Beat. A graduate of Mayo High School, she now studies criminology and English at Penn State University.