| Bring your picnics to the pool |
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POA Board reverses food ban, extends Wildcat hours
By Ann Dickerson ann.dickerson@bigcanoenews.com The POA Board voted unanimously May 20 to revise the 2009 swimming pool rules that had been passed at the April meeting, allowing patrons of the Swim Club to enjoy picnics in the beach area, and visitors to the Wildcat Pool to bring their coolers to the area underneath the long wooden trellis. “We got quite a lot of feedback on this,” Amenities Director Jim Story told the Board, before making the new recommendations. Story said the Pickens County Health Department has told him that food, wrappers and drinks are not allowed within 10 feet of the pool. Because the Swim Club has narrow decking, approximately 15 feet from fence to pool, Story said the Health Department “strongly suggested” that food not be permitted inside the gated area as it would be difficult to keep it 10 feet from the pool. However, patrons are allowed to use, the designated Picnic Area outside the pool fence, and the beach. The POA staff would prefer that people not picnic on the beach, but won’t prohibit it, especially on weekends and holidays. The trellis at the Wildcat Pool is more than 10 feet from the pool, so picnicking will be allowed there. Only drinks in approved containers will be allowed at either pool – no hard plastic, glass or Styrofoam can be brought to the pool areas. In addition, the Board voted to spend $9,200 to extend the previously agreed-upon hours at the Wildcat Pool from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day but Sunday, when it will open at 11 a.m. (The Swim Club will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.) The Wildcat Pool will be open daily from May 23 through Labor Day. The Swim Club will be open daily from May 23 through Aug. 9, when it will go to weekends only through Labor Day. There are 25 lifeguards and two head lifeguards who staff the Swim Club, most of whom return to school in mid-August. The lifeguards at the Wildcat Pool are Big Canoe property owners and therefore are available to work later in the summer. Admission to both pools remains $6 per person, except for those under 2. Both pools are smoke free facilities. |
