Left to Right: Curt Hall, Katelin Dorow, Amy Fricke-Weigel, Bill Manis, Damon Ryan
New amenities and expanded hours of operation will greet visitors at the Manitowoc Family Aquatic Center this summer.
The facility at Citizen Park is opening for the season Saturday morning (June 12th) after being closed due to COVID-19 last summer.
Amy Fricke-Weigel is President of the Friends Group which has overseen 3 additions at the FAC since planning began in 2003.
“I’m extremely excited,” Amy said. “First of all, for the pool to be open again, knowing that it was closed due to COVID last year, and also to have the new explanation to part of this opening on Saturday.”
Curt Hall, City Parks, and Recreation Division Manager, also spoke with Seehafer News this week about the latest expansion.
“Really excited to see the warming pool and the splash pad opened up to the public,” Hall explained. “It’s going to be an amazing addition to this already really nice facility. [I’m] really excited to see the potential with this facility, because I think there is a lot more we can do.”
Also added at the Aquatic Center was a new reservable shelter next to the splash pad and warming pool.
Fricke-Weigel is thankful for the donors who helped make this latest improvement happen.
“This was a $2.2 million project for phase 3,” Amy explained. “We have wonderful people in this community and even outside this community, who have extended donations to make this a reality.”
Hall explained that like other areas, Manitowoc Parks and Recreation is experiencing a shortage of lifeguards.
“If you want to work, at the Aquatic Center, if you want to be a lifeguard, apply today online at Manitowoc.org,” Hall said. “We are hiring, and training on the spot.”
Curt Hall said they’ll have expanded hours at the Aquatic Center with a morning and afternoon session Tuesday through Sunday and hours of operation from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Aquatic Center will be closed to swimming on Mondays to allow for the resumption of swimming lessons, and to perform maintenance.
There’s also time for open swim and usage by tots at the pool.
Season passes are currently available for purchase at the Manitowoc Senior Center offices on Custer Street and later this month, on-site, at Citizen Park. A punch card is also being sold.
While the aquatic center is opening for the season Saturday, an official ribbon-cutting is planned for Wednesday, July 7th at 10:00 AM.
Hall called the Aquatic Center a “great asset for the community and we’re very proud of it.”
