Swimmers will pay more to dive in

Omaha city leaders have pledged to keep city pools open for the entire summer season, but sun-seekers will pay more to swim.

Higher fees at city pools, for both single admission and season passes, come after a shortened swimming season last year left many Omahans hot.

Eight of Omaha's pools will open June 5, including the new Zorinsky Aquatic Center, 3808 S. 156th St. The other eight pools will open June 12.

Some city pools also will be open fewer hours, as another way to save money.

Ron Gerard, spokesman for Mayor Jim Suttle, said last year's saga — in which eight pools were scheduled to close a week early to save $75,000 — will not have a sequel.

“The mayor made a commitment last fall to keeping libraries and pools open through the season, and he is maintaining that commitment,” he said.

City funding for pools increased in 2010 to $1.3 million. In 2009, the city spent $1.17 million on pools.

To bring in more revenue this year, the city's six existing leisure pools — which have amenities such as water slides, shaded areas and locker rooms — will increase single admission prices by $1 for adults, putting admission at $4.50. The nine traditional pools hiked admission by 75 cents for adults, to $3.75.

These are the first fee increases since 2007, said Kim Harman, Omaha recreation manager.

Virgil Patlan, president of the Burlington Road Neighborhood Association, objected to the higher fees. He said it would make more sense to lower rates. Cheaper admission would bring more people to the pools and could ultimately lead to greater revenues, Patlan said.

Patlan said he's had discussions about forming a community pool foundation to remove funding responsibility for city pools from the city government.

Harman said families who swim frequently might consider buying season passes. For a family of up to six people, a pass costs $175, up $15 from last year.

As an additional cost-saving measure, the city is trimming hours at some pools. Harman said hours were cut during periods of low pool traffic.

Karen traditional pool, 6288 H St., Spring Lake traditional pool, 4020 Hoctor Blvd., Camelot traditional pool, 9270 Cady Ave., and Lee Valley traditional pool, 10605 Charles St., will operate from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. daily, instead of keeping longer weekday hours.

Those also will be the hours at Morton traditional pool, which the city will reopen this summer.

The city permanently closed Morton last summer as part of a budget-cutting move. After neighbors objected, the City Council voted in September to spend $40,000 to reopen it.

Last summer, Joe Craig led a march on City Hall to object to plans to close Elmwood pool a week early before private donations eventually kept it open.

Craig said he supports rate increases to keep the season at its full length. However, he said he's disappointed that higher fees will not preserve last summer's hours at all city pools.

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