Rec Center's Pool Wards Off Winter Chill

Whether you call Macomb your home, or are visiting for the holidays, the Aquatic Center at the always offers a warm, indoor escape from the outdoor Michigan chill.

Open all year round, with the exception of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the pools offer children and adults of all ages a place to exercise, play, or just relax, rain, shine, or snow.

"I think with the snow flying, it can be like a haven inside there," said Sal DiCaro, Macomb Township parks and recreation director. "You have an opportunity to think you're kind of on vacation because it's really nice in there in the winter."

Resident or non-resident, all can enjoy the pool

While most patrons are Macomb residents, non-residents can also enjoy all that the center has to offer.

All the way from Chicago, Ross Noble brought his 1-year-old son, Walter, to the pool
while visiting his in-laws for the holidays.

"I bring him here to get some exercise," he said. "During Christmas, we spend a
lot of time inside, opening gifts and things. It's nice to get him to run off a little energy in the pool."

In addition to being the only public, non-school pool in the community, the Aquatic Center also boasts a variety of features.

The Feature Pool is, at its deepest, only 1 1/2 feet and has a play structure for the younger guests, and the water slide can be used by children and adults 48 inches or taller.

The Lazy River has a current that can be used for fitness walking or play, and patrons can test their balance in the Log Run as they try to walk across two floating
logs, while holding onto a suspended rope above them. 

A lap pool is available for exercise, and for relaxation, older patrons can enjoy the "adults only" hot tub, reserved for users 14 years or older.

"With all the play features and the shallower depths in the pools, the kids feel extremely comfortable and have plenty to do," said Permelia Gross, aquatics supervisor. "We see kids going from one play feature to the other every minute."

She added that of all the features the Aquatic Center offers its guests, she believes the Lazy River is most enjoyed by all.

"I believe the Lazy River is a big hit for all populations," she said. "The adults use it for walking and fitness, and the kids will swim around in it for hours."

The Nobles, too, are partial to the Lazy River.

"We love the river, and the slide is a lot of fun," he said. "I like the temperature,
it's really good. Sometimes pools are a little bit too cool, this one is just right."

Safety first

There are several lifeguards on duty at all times, to ensure the safety of patrons
and to enforce the rules of the pool.

Dylan Hovis has been employed as a lifeguard at the center for almost three years and knows the rules well.

"The basic rules are: no running, no diving, you have to be 14 to go in the hot tub,
you have to be 18 to use the noodles and the water weights or any other equipment we have here, and you have to wear a bathing suit," she said.

To be in the pool area by themselves, children must be at least 11 years old, and
kids under age 3 need to have an adult within arms reach of them in the pool at all times.

Macomb resident, John Vestal, enjoys bringing his two children to the pools so much, they make the trip once a month.

"It's easy to come up here, and they just enjoy playing," he said. "The kids will run around for an hour and get tired. And, it's safe. There are a lot of lifeguards."

Vestal's 6-year-old daughter, Allison, shared her favorite part of the pool. "Swimming and going down the slide," she said.

The pools are open for adult swim in the early morning from 6 until noon, and open to children and families at noon every day.

More information on pool hours can be found on the Rec Center's website.