Swim center open house Sunday

Locals are invited dip their toes in the pool for free during the Carson Valley Swim Center's open house, Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"We want to kick off the summer season and show off some of our new improvements," said Kirk Chiapella, pool director. "We want to highlight our air handling system. We've changed to more energy-efficient lighting and we just finished painting the building today."

The snack bar will be open and a number of special events are scheduled, including a kayak and water polo demonstrations and exercise classes.

The Douglas High School diving team will be demonstrating their skills from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and staff will be conducting safety drills in response to mock accidents at 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The swim center is located near Douglas High School at 1600 Highway 88, Minden.

Four indoor pools are open year-round at the center, including a 25-yard, six-lane competition pool with high and low dives, an 86-degree activity pool for children and a 92-degree pool with ramp, lift and stairs for seniors and the disabled.

Two outdoor pools are open from May to October, including a 25-yard competition pool and a separate small pool for children and families.

Entrance fees are $3.50 a day for adults 18 and over. Children, the disabled and seniors aged 55 and older are $1.75 and families, $10 per day. Special discounted rates for monthly, three-month and yearly rates are also available.

Managed by the East Fork Swimming Pool District, the Swim Center was completed in 1989 to provide a comprehensive aquatics program for Carson Valley residents.

The Carson Valley Swim Center was funded by a 20-year $2.5 million bond, paid through ad valorem property taxes. The bond sold in November 1986 will be paid off in November 2006, but the second line item will remain, Chiapella said.

The pool is heavily subsidized as are most public pools. Carson Valley Swim Center receives $2 for every dollar of revenue, he said.

Five East Fork Township residents are elected for four-year staggered terms. The board meets once a month and is publicly noticed to encourage citizen participation.

The Swim Center is located near Douglas High School at 1600 Highway 88, Minden.

Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.

BREAKOUT

Special events during Sunday's open house are as follows:

• Master Manatee Team workout, 8 to 10 a.m. in the outdoor pool

• Douglas Dolfins Team workout, 8 to 10 a.m. in the indoor pool

• Facility tours are scheduled every half hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Kayak demonstration from 10 to 11 a.m. at the slide pool

• A free water exercise class,10:15 to 11 a.m. in the outdoor pool

• A scuba and snorkeling demonstration, 11 a.m. to noon in the slide pool

• A water polo demonstration from 11:15 a.m. to noon in the north half of the outdoor pool

• Douglas High School team diving demonstration, 12:30 to 1 p.m. in the diving well.

• Safety drills, complete with mock disasters, are scheduled for 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.