By Cole Fox
Getting ready for the opening of the Cedar Falls Aquatic Center every season resembles the hectic run up to the opening performance of a play at the community theater — all the roles must be well rehearsed and everything has to be just right for the public to enjoy it.
This is the 20th season for the aquatic center and as it quietly marks this milestone, it is refreshing to know that a whole new generation of kids have grown up around the pools here. And programming, including water walking, has grown exponentially.
So on Friday afternoon, staff at the aquatic center prepped for the season opening on Saturday, May 30, at noon, with a mixture of urgency and anticipation. Lifeguards and support staff vacuum-cleaned the pools and tended to the landscaping–some of the last details prior to the opening moment.
Mickey Devine, the city‘s aquatics supervisor, said the most important part of the job is ensuring the safety of all.
“Safety is the first priority,” he said. “And we want to make sure everyone’s having fun in a safe environment. Those are the main goals every year.”
Devine, who also oversees programming at the recently opened Cedar Falls Natatorium, knows firsthand what it takes to have a successful season at the aquatic center. Now in his fourth summer as the leader of the operations, he started in 2017 as a lifeguard.
The lifeguards at the Falls Aquatic Center must receive over 20 hours of CPR and first aid training and demonstrate exceptional swimming skills to qualify.
In her first year as the Falls’ pool manager, Karis Burch is entering her sixth summer working at the facility. She studies public health and communications at the University of Northern Iowa, and extends her first aid skills as a patient care technician for Allen Hospital in Waterloo.
“I’m looking forward to growing as a person in this manager role, as well as helping other people grow. Of course, we want to make sure it’s fun for the patrons,” she told Cedar Falls News Hub.
The Falls Aquatic Center opened at 3025 South Main St. in 2006, and has since added new attractions for its guests to cool off on hot summer days.
Last year, newly built cabanas created private spaces for rent with lockers, deck chairs, and guaranteed shade.
“This year, I’ve been getting a ton of phone calls about them, and a lot of people are renting them out for things like birthday parties,” said Devine.
The Falls is hosting several events this summer, like its annual Doggie Dip in August, or its Summer Sizzler Swim Meet–BLAST on the weekend of July 9.
With temperatures reaching over 80 degrees expected in the extended forecast, the staff at The Falls Aquatic Center expects to welcome hundreds of guests every day this summer.
“Come visit The Falls this summer, ” Burch said. “We’re happy to see you!”
