Rochester to offer free pool admission this summer

Get the bathing suit and water wings ready: in a matter of weeks, Rochester’s two public pools will be opening for the first time since 2019 — and this summer, admission will be free to everyone, the Rochester City Council confirmed Monday.

In a unanimous vote, the council approved the use of $70,000 from the city’s $17 million American Rescue Plan allotment to fund free admission at the Silver Lake and Soldiers Field pools. Council Member Nick Campion, who originally brought the idea to the council two weeks ago, said the action is meant to give families a free outlet to have fun outside, after the pools were shuttered throughout the pandemic.

“I think this is just a fantastic policy change for the city, for a year where so many families have gone through so much hardship, both with school changes and the pandemic,” said Campion. “Having this as something to come back to, and in a small way, celebrate the reopening of the pools… I think that's really exciting.”  

Council Member Shaun Palmer added that the Rochester Swim Club would provide free swim lessons throughout the summer.

Monday’s motion came two weeks after the council voted to keep Silver Lake Pool open for 2021, going against Park and Rec’s original plans to close and demolish the pool, kick-starting the creation of an “interactive water feature.” Those long-term plans have not been changed — merely pushed back, at this point, through 2021.

City staff continues to review whether or not ARPA funds would be eligible for a program of this kind. If it’s deemed ineligible, the $70,000 would come from the city’s contingency fund, which currently sits just under $840,000. Admission fees in 2018 and 2019 raised around $65,000. 

The city’s website says Soldiers Field Pool is slated to open Saturday, June 5, with Silver Lake Pool following on Monday, June 7 — both approximations. Silver Lake Pool will likely close in early August, with Soldiers Field following before the end of August.

Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.

Cover photo licensed via Canva