Milan pool plans for the future

A young ladies take a breather on the wall while enjoying Milan Natatorium on Thursday, July 24, in Milan. [photo by Brian Leddy / Independent]

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

MILAN — With a private pool party going on under the watchful eye of lifeguard Isaiah Baisden, Milan Pool Manager Samantha Harp discussed pool improvements and plans for the future in the natatorium office Sunday evening.
Harp, a certified pool operator, said the pool reopened June 16 with a full program of summer activities after several months of work.

Summer programs included swimming lessons for the mom and tot set, children’s lessons and swim teams for those 8 years old and younger, as well as more serious swimmers up to 13.

With the school year starting in the middle of August, the pool will switch to fall activities. Harp said swimming lessons are over for the year, but the water aerobic classes will restart later in the month, with hours to be announced. Harp said water aerobics is a popular class with all age groups, but it draws seniors in particular.

“The elderly love it,” she said, explaining that water takes the load off joints and is easier for some kinds of exercise. She added that physical therapists bring clients in to take advantage of water therapy, especially with spine patients.

The manager said she expects pool hours to be a bit shorter in the fall and winter when some of the lifeguards return to school. A new schedule will be posted as soon as hours are confirmed.

Lifeguard staff is up to seven guards, which is a full staff, she said. The American Red Cross trains all lifeguards on the pool staff covering legal aspects of swimming pools, rescue techniques, CPR and operation of defibrillators for cardiac emergencies.

The Milan swimming pool was closed late last year to address maintenance problems. Persistent ventilation and roof problems plagued the village facility until village trustees shut the pool down for a full face-lift along with repairs.

Harp said the pool staff, including lifeguards, and the village maintenance department pitched in to do the work of cleaning, acid etching and scraping the facility walls before applying pool-grade epoxy paint that will not flake and clog filters. The manager said recent state inspections have given the water and the facility nearly perfect marks, even after a recent break-in when vandals polluted the water and caused the facility to shut down for two days.

Current pool hours are:
Monday through Thursday
Lap Swim 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., noon to 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Open Swim 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional Open Swim Thursday 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday
Lap Swim 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., noon to 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Open Swim 10 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Private Pool Parties 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sundays
Lap Swim noon to 1 p.m.
Open Swim 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Private Pool Parties 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Pool Fees:
Children six and under -- $1.00
Students 7 to 17 and Seniors over 55 -- $1.50
Adults 18 to 54-- $2.00
Monthly passes are available

Information: Milan Natatorium, 405 Airport Road, Milan (505) 287-2200. Children six years old or under must be accompanied by an adult when in the water.