Sparta/White County YMCA has been adding programs and equipment to their pool and aquatics center over the summer, and recently they added a new water slide.
“We apologize for the delay, the slide was anticipated to be installed by the beginning of the season but was delayed due to several extenuating circumstances,” CEO Kyle Goff said.
Goff said there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy it as the pool will remain open for public swimming throughout the month of July.
According to Goff, the slide, which has two 8-foot decks with double 360-degree, 22-foot spiral flumes, lands riders smoothly into the 5-foot-deep section and is safe for all ages, unless otherwise determined for safety purposes by a YMCA certified lifeguard who will be stationed beside the slide. Goff added that the slide is from the same manufacturer as the single flume slide the YMCA already had in place, but, with the addition of the double slide, wait times for riding a slide will be reduced and the added feature of swimmers being able to race each other on the double slide will provide another aspect of water fun to the pool.
“Our original plan was to place the slide in the deep end of the pool, where the diving boards used to be located,” Goff said. “Our aquatics director, Roger Mason, opted to strategically place this slide in the shallow end on the opposite side for a couple of reasons. First, we want to leave the pool deck on the deep end open to house diving boards. Also, we only allow children under the age of 18 in the deep end of the pool if they have passed a swim test. With the slide located here, youth can use the slide, even if they haven’t been cleared to be in the deep end.”
The installation of the new double slide is part of what Goff said is a plan to install several pieces of recreational equipment and add new programming at the YMCA over the next several years. This season, the YMCA started a youth swim league as well as adding an adaptive water fitness class for participants with special needs to their aquatics program. The YMCA is now accepting registration for the new flag football league in their updated youth sports programming.
As for the pool, Goff said more improvements are coming.
“Steps are already being taken to make sure additional improvements are in next year’s budget,” he said, indicating that the plan is to have one diving board in place by the start of next pool season.
Pool memberships at Sparta/White County YMCA are now being offered at half price, and there are daily passes available as well.
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