(Memphis) – A little water can help you beat the heat and parents, like Chloe Weeks, are grateful.
“Especially on a 90 degree day or 100 degree day. It’s very nice to have the water opportunity,” says Weeks.
It’s not a 24/7 opportunity when it comes to pools run by the City of Memphis.
Monday was the first day of city summer camp, and outdoor city pools sat empty. They will be closed every Monday.
They are all closed on Sunday, the weekend time when most families are home and perhaps have more pool time.
“I’m really surprised about Sunday. I guess they have to close for maintenance at some point, maybe clean it a little bit. But I am surprised that it’s closed on the weekends,” says Weeks.
Parks Director Joseph Lee says people were just not showing up to swim on Sundays and Mondays.
“At one time they were open six days a week, but we found through experience and usage the best time was Tuesday through Saturday. Mondays were very limited utilization, as well as Sundays,” says Lee.
He says it comes down to trying to make the best use of limited budget dollars.
“You have to balance that with the utilization of needs verses demand,verses willingness to have an operation being staffed but not being utilized,” says Lee.
There are other options. The city’s four indoor pools at Bickford, Hickory Hill, Orange Mound and Skinner are open on Mondays, but not Sundays.
Finding free water areas may be a hot commodity on a hot day.
“We do love that we have this opportunity to at least come here (to the Splash area) and it’s right around the corner from us and its free, open 24/7 as far as I know. At least there is one option,” says Weeks as her daughter played at the city’s Splash Playground outside the Skinner Community Center.
All outdoor City of Memphis pools are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
