Aquatic Centers in Full Bloom Saturday

Both the Ballwin North Pointe Aquatic Center and the open for summer this Saturday, and both offer special events and an aquatic experience that caters to all levels of swimmers and sunbathers.

Remember, these two places are much more than cement holes filled with water. For those who prefer to sunbathe or have a pool-side read, both centers offer plenty of lounging areas, in addition to facilities for pool parties with group rates, which include concessions.

Special nights such as the Cardboard Regatta and Dog Swim at Ballwin, and the Pooch Plunge and Dive-Ins located in Ellisville, show that programmers make the most of the facilities for residents.

But it would be a shame to waste a great source of exercise and fun. The Center for Disease Control reports that swimmers have about half the risk of death as inactive people. In addition, people reported enjoying water-based exercise more than land-based exercise.

What if you’re afraid of the water? Both pools offer lessons. Ballwin uses the Red Cross program, and Ellisville also offers private or semi-private lessons through Jill O’Sullivan, the Swim Coach. Parents can even introduce babies to water in a special class.

“We offer over 100 swimming and diving lessons – group and private – and a recreational swim and dive team,” said Adam Peper, Aquatic Manager for Ballwin.

Both centers also have “beach-entry” style pools, where you can enter the water on a very gradual incline, allowing the swimmer to choose how deeply they go without a steep drop. The North Pointe Aquatic Center has a 910-foot long Lazy River, ideal for a teen or adult looking for a relaxing drift in the sun.

These centers are highly family-oriented, with special play days for children and adventurous add-ons. These include waterfalls, sprays, children’s splash pools and of course, water slides. The North Pointe Aquatic Center also offers a unique “Tree Swing” and an “Aqua Climb” rock-climbing wall.

“We’re offering a new aqua camp that we’ve never done before,” said Lisa Blumer, Ellisville’s Director of Parks & Recreation. The camp is for ages 5 to 12.

For more competitive young swimmers, Ballwin and Ellisville also have youth swim clubs, which provide a chance to compete and potentially build-up body strength, depending on age. The Ballwin Blue Dolphins require a 25-yard swim, while the Ellisville-Wildwood Gators use an age-appropriate assessment of basic swimming ability. Youth ages 5 to 18 years old can join and compete in diving, swimming or both. The Blue Dolphins start June 6, and the Gators start May 31, so there’s still time to inquire about openings.

“It’s the second year for the Ellisville-Wildwood Gators,” Blumer said. “It has grown a lot.”

Resident fees for both centers are $5 or less, and $7 or less for non-resident adults. There also are season passes available, with special prices for families and couples.

Blumer also said that for the first time, Wildwood residents can purchase pool passes at the Ellisville resident rate. Thursday nights are a great day for pool time in Ellisville, as many people chose to attend the concerts or farmer’s market in Bluebird Park (where the EDGE Center is located) after their swim.

Also, don’t forget to check with your local subdivision to see if they offer swim classes or a swim club, such as Country Surf Swim School and Westglen Swim Club. Just remember to mind the rules at each pool, and always have children accompanied by an adult.