After almost a month of delay and a lot of hard work by the pool staff, the Cordell Swimming Pool finally opened for the season with a free swimming day on Monday, June 24, 2019.
The pool opening was originally set for Memorial Day weekend, but severe storms and flooding not only filled the pool with mud and silt from the nearby creek, but also damaged necessary pool equipment. According to city administrator J.C. Moser, the pool’s vacuum control board was shorted out during the flooding and had to be replaced in order to ensure the pool’s water met Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality standards.
While the city was waiting for the replacement part to be delivered and installed, the pool crew put in more than 100 hours of work cleaning the mud and debris from the pool, replacing the water, and getting it clear and clean again. Because mud and debris infiltrated the pool’s pipes, a second round of filling, draining, and refilling was required.
Pool manager Amber Rich said more than 100 people showed up Monday for the pool’s grand opening day, half of those in the first hour the pool was open.
The pool is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., and open for water walking from 9:00 a.m. until noon Tuesday through Saturday. Adult swim is set for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The pool is also available to be rented for parties and special events. The first special event, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Friday, June 28. The pool will be open until midnight for a special evening swim, with Finding Nemo and Finding Dory playing on a big screen at the pool.
Regular admission to the pool is $2.00, with kids under the age of five admitted free. Season passes are available from Cordell city hall.