WAYNESBORO – From the regulars to the occasional visitors, the Northside Pool in Waynesboro has become an institution, not just locally but in the surrounding area.
It’s a destination for youngsters attending daycare facilities, families, school-age children who are looking for something to do during the summer months that will bring them in close contact with classmates and strangers, and, the regulars like Ben Taylor, who at 72 years old sits in his camp chair in the shade and walks the length of the pool talking to people he knows and enjoying the sun.
“I’ve been coming to the pool since 2014,” Taylor said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
And he doesn’t. Taylor occupies his spot from the time the pool opens at 11 a.m. until around 5 p.m. when it’s time for supper and his usual evening fare of food and television (mostly classic shows like Dragnet and Batman, etc.)
Opening day for the pool was May 27. The pool will open full time on June 2 and will be open daily until Labor Day (Sept. 5). Pool hours are 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon until 7 p.m. on Sundays.
The pool is closed on Tuesday and will be open from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, the last day of the school year for Waynesboro Area School District. The pool will resume normal hours on Thursday.
Folks can reserve the pavilion and weekend evening hours at the pool after closing time. There’s a pool just for the kids; the pool goes from three feet at the shallow end to five feet at the deep end. A giant sliding board promises to thrill all who mount the steps and let gravity do the rest; two tube slides and a 12-foot section for jumpers are other features at the pool.
Then there’s the popular theme nights on Thursdays, sure to bring out the kid in everyone.
The daily admission rate for the 2022 season is $6 for ages 4 through 17 and $7 for ages 18 and older. The cost for a chaperone (non-swimmer) is $3.50 and it’ll cost $4 after 5 p.m.
Northside Pool also offers swimming lessons starting June 13. You can download an application for lessons by logging on to the pool’s website at Northside Pool – Borough of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (waynesboropa.org)
There are many challenges when it comes to a community pool. For starters, the staff consists primarily of young men and women still in high school or just starting college. They are tasked with overseeing hundreds of people every day.
According to the Northside Pool website, “We want your visit at Northside to be safe and enjoyable … if you observe someone violating the rules, conducting themselves in an unsafe manner, or using rude or vulgar language, let our pool staff know. We want our pool to be a place where all age groups and families can have a safe and enjoyable time. If you have any suggestions or ideas to improve the operation of the pool, please let us know by calling Jason Stains, Borough Manager, at 717-762-2101.”
Northside Pool is located at 138 Brown St., Waynesboro.
