Manassas Park Community Matters Blog Post - T’is the Season… – By Sarah Barnett

For many of you, this is the time of the year when you start itching for the summer.  Especially after the winter we have had, I am as anxious as most of you to enjoy warm summer BBQ’s and beach vacations.  But, this time of year is also particularly stressful for those of us in the Aquatic’s field. It’s nothing new for me, as this mark’s my 9th summer as an Aquatic’s Professional.  Each year brings new challenges to overcome.  It’s part of what I love the most about working in Parks and Recreation.  Each day is a new adventure and each day I have the opportunity to learn something new!  Most recently I learned to hang pool tile and re-wire a pool vacuum.  As a female in a male dominated field, it is very empowering to be able to hang with the guys, getting down and dirty in a green, slime filled pool.  I get to spend ½ of my day in heels and jewelry, and the other ½ of my day in chlorine stained sweats and an old T-shirt, knee deep in frog filled pool water.

While these activities are refreshing and empowering, there are many stressful aspects of this season.  Especially after the epically cold winter that we have had!  The harsh temperatures took its toll on Signal Bay Water Park.  And the fact that the cold temperatures and snow storms would not let up until the beginning of April, really hampered our ability to get the water park up and running in a timely manner. Most years, we are able to start the drain and clean process in mid-March.  This year, the weather didn’t let up until mid-April.  By the time we could get in there and start the cleaning process, we were further hampered by some big repairs that we weren’t expecting, that resulted from the extreme cold temperatures.  As always though,  we continue to diligently work to prepare the water park for its opening day, May 24, 2014.  Mother Nature cannot stop us in our efforts to get the water park back into tip-top shape.  It’s a challenge that we accept and face full on.  It may take employees from every division to make it happen, but as a team, we will open the water park, in the best condition possible!

On Memorial Day weekend, when you are lounging at your favorite aquatic facility, be sure to take it all in, enjoy the unofficial start of summer, and appreciate all the hard work that it took to get the facility up and operating!

We cant wait to see everyone this Summer!

Sarah Barnett is Aquatics Supervisor for the Manassas Park Parks and Recreation Department. She can be reached at 703.335.8872 x3672 or via email at s.barnett@manassasparkva.gov.

Community Matters is a blog created by the City of Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation. The blog features program updates, announcements of new services, special event notices, or information of general interest.