Queen’s Square pool officially opened
Dancing is not the only positive activity being pushed by the YMCA. As of today, that organisation is the proud proprietor of what in many societies is the ultimate status symbol. Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Oh, what a dip can do on a hot muggy day! These southside kids and many others now have that luxury with the construction of the Queen’s Square swimming pool. The pool, which was completed six months ago, aims to provide years of enjoyment and instruction. But were the necessary steps taken to ensure that it remains with us longer than this dry season?
Dickie Bradley, P.U.P. Candidate, Queen’s Square
“We put an awesome amount of pile underneath here. We got engineers from abroad to come and advise us that things were going well. When we finally cast the pool, it was cast all in one both the floor and the sides. The reason for that is that we wanted to ensure is…and as you know, this pool has been here from last year and the kids have been splashing enjoying themselves and we’ve had no kind of problem with that.”
The pool was officially handed over today to the YMCA to manage. Executive Director of that non-governmental organization, Carolyn Gentle Genitty, says the YMCA plans to take some important hygienic and safety measures.
Carolyn Gentle Genitty, Exec. Director, YMCA
“That would include a rail, making sure that there’s proper drainage for the pool. Making sure that the children and individuals on a regular basis follow the rules of the pool to make sure that they are safe. The pool itself was built at ground-level, so there’s issues of drainage that we need to work on to ensure that eventually once the water runs out it runs into a gutter that eventually runs back into a sewer line or somewhere other than on the base.”
And when those steps have been taken, Genitty says everyone will be able to enjoy use of the facility.
Carolyn Gentle Genitty
“We’re actually looking at offering training programmes to high schools, as well as a community and recreation programmes to primary school individuals, then on weekend opening it up for a community swim. There are issues where people have asked us to open early in the morning for aqua swim where they’re actually able to go through aqua training classes. So if you have arthritis or if you just want to get an exercise, you can come in early in the morning, just like going to the gym and you practice and you do weight loss, toning up, you do a combination of stuff using the pool.”
“So those are programme we’re looking at and as soon as we get most of the details in place, which would be getting swimming instructors, lifeguards, making sure we have an appropriate life guard tower to over see the pool, making sure all out individuals are trained in first aid and C.P.R., those are the issues we’re working on as well.”
Test runs will take place next week, after which the pool will be opened to the public. Marion Ali for News 5.
