PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — It was 48 degrees at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in Prince William – far too cold for the opening day for public outdoor swimming pools in Prince William County.
Prince William’s six public swimming pools and two water parks were scheduled to open today, the first day of the Memorial Day weekend. But a message posted to the county’s parks website said cooler than average temperatures would force them to try again tomorrow:
Due to cool temperatures forecasted for Saturday, May 25, our six outdoor pools and waterparks WILL NOT be opening as planned.
It is our hope that the temperatures will warm up and we will be open for Sunday May 26 and Monday May 27 to help celebrate the start to the pool season. Any updates will be provided here by early Sunday if additional changes occur to our Memorial Day weekend operations.
Swimming pools and water parks in Prince William County draw anywhere from 400 to 440,000 visitors each swimming season, which lasts from Memorial Day until Labor Day September 2.
While none of the pools are offering any new attractions for visitors this year, parks and recreation spokeswoman Dianne Cabot said they’re preparing for a busy season.
“Each outdoor pool is drained in late March-April, cleaned, and refilled with water. During the time the pool is empty our aquatic staff inspect the interior of the pool shell for cracks, tile damage that winter freezing may have caused, caulking, inspecting the water slides and other floating features,” said Cabot. “The rest of the pool complex is inspected for concrete changes due to winter freeze, getting the lifeguard stands ready, shade structures put up, chairs/tables washed, concessions operation checked, ordering supplies, marketing the facilities via paper, web, Facebook, coupons.”
Of Prince William’s two water parks, Slashdown in Manassas and Waterworks in Dale City, Slashdown is Northern Virginia’s largest water park offering a 770-foot lazy river, two 4-story slides, and a 25-meter lap pool.
