City Pools Provided Relief to Thousands During Hot Summer

CITY POOLS PROVIDED RELIEF

TO THOUSANDS DURING HOT SUMMER

City’s three pools reported

more than 49,000 swimmers

RAPID CITY, SD—With consistently hot temperatures in Rapid City this summer, the public sought relief by flocking in solid numbers to the City’s three outdoor pools.

            A total of 49,213 people checked in at the Jimmy Hilton Sioux Park, Horace Mann and Parkview pools this summer.  The number is down 14.8 percent from last summer’s record numbers when more than 57,000 people used the City’s pools - a year removed from when all three facilities were shuttered due to the COVID pandemic in the summer of 2020.

          This summer’s total of 49,213 swimmers is a 13.7 percent increase over the 42,897 that attended pools in the summer of 2019.

           “We had a very good summer,” said City Recreation Division Director Doug Lowe.  “It’s tough to compare numbers to last summer.  Not only was last summer very hot, but people couldn’t wait to get back into the pool after the summer closures the year before due to COVID.

           “When comparing to the summer before COVID, we had a very big increase in attendance and our pools and staff this summer were kept busy.”

            The Roosevelt Swim Center also was a busy place this summer with a total of 31,445 people taking advantage of either the indoor swim facilities or the 50-meter outdoor pool from June through August.  The indoor facility was closed from August 20 through Labor Day for annual maintenance, however the 50-meter pool remained open for a final outdoor option for swimmers..

            City Parks and Recreation officials remind the public the Roosevelt Swim Center provides a great option for the public seeking a swimming option during the fall, winter and spring months.  The City is already planning for next summer, working to recruit lifeguards to serve for the 2023 summer season.  A lifeguard class is planned for November with details announced soon.  Anyone wishing to serve as a lifeguard for the 2023 summer season can contact the Roosevelt Swim Center at 605-394-5223 for more information.