The new Piedmont community pool complex officially opened for business on Saturday.
Pool diehards were on hand to celebrate the moment as Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen cut the ribbon for a second time, and new aquatics staff were finally able to put their skills to work.
The weather, and the school district’s spring break timing, made for a sparse crowd on site, but many residents eager to test the waters made their way to the pool throughout the day.
More information about swim lesson sign-ups to come later this week, the city said on Tuesday.
April will be a ramp-up month for the new pool — a chance to get in the water, explore the facility, and start building routines before broader summer programming begins. From April 11 through April 30, everyone can swim for $5 per visit.
Beginning April 12, the pool schedule through the end of April will be:
- Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Midday closure: 1-3 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Midday closure: 1-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday
- Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Throughout April, both the competition and activity pools will offer lap swim and open swim daily. The competition pool will be set up primarily for lap swim during morning hours, with a more limited number of lanes available later in the day. In the activity pool, lap swim will be available 6-9:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7-10 a.m. on weekends.
Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen with architect Clarence Mamuyac 
Staff members Ben Gitter and Alan Kong 
The lifeguards keep an eye on the swimmers 
Allison and Josh Bernstein with their granddaughter Etty 
Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen and her husband Robert 
The Ellis Family Pavilion