Conowingo Pool Offers Cool Alternative

Havre de Grace may not have a public pool, but there is one a short drive from downtown.

The Conowingo Visitor Center and Swimming Pool held an open house Thursday to kick off the summer and showcase the newly remodeled visitor center, designed to be environmentally friendly. Many were there to enjoy the free day at the pool, as the staff provided games, entertainment, music and a complimentary barbecue.

While there are no public family swimming facilities in downtown Havre de Grace, the Conowingo facility offers an affordable destination worth getting in the car to experience. The highlight of this grandiose pool is the view, with the Susquehanna River as its backdrop.

The pool is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 5. The daily fee is $4 per person, and $3 after 4 p.m. Children ages 3 and under are free. Annual membership is available, and the pool can host special events.

The visitor center, originally opened in the mid-1980s, was remodeled in 2010 with environmentally sound elements like solar panels, tinted windows, high-efficiency lighting, HVAC systems, bike racks and a system to capture rainwater for reuse on the building’s green roof. All the materials used were recycled. The center has achieved a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

A fish lift and fish restoration program have been in operation since 1972, and the facility has worked on lowering its carbon footprint with Exelon's initiative, the 2020 Low Carbon program. Their hard work has helped maintain the quality of life and is sustaining the many fish that thrive in the river. Eels, catfish, bass, perch, carp and shad are healthy and protected. In addition, a fishing wharf was opened two years ago, located just below the dam, for easy-access fishing complete with handicapped access.

The center itself contains historical and factual information about the river region and the construction of Conowingo Dam. Built in 1928, the Conowingo Hydroelectric Generating Station was the second-largest hydroelectric project in the United States, second only to Niagara Falls.