McKennan wading pool ready for start of city swim season

The new wading pool at McKennan Park will open along with the rest of the city of Sioux Falls pools on Friday.

The pool replaces a more than 50-year-old one that lacked zero-depth entry. In its place is a wading pool that can accommodate 328 kids.

“It looks great,” said Jackie Nelson, recreation manager for the Parks & Recreation Department.

“There’s a couple extra slides, it’s zero-depth, and there’s actually more play features and more green space for people to just lounge and tan and enjoy the space without being in the water.”

While the pool is ready for opening day at 1 p.m., construction is wrapping up on the bathhouse, which includes five bathrooms, a concessions area and a gathering space inside.

The $4.4 million project includes a donation from Pierce and Barbara McDowell through the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation, an affiliate of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

“Our family has lived in this neighborhood for more than 35 years, and we know how important this park is to the community,” Pierce McDowell III said in a statement. “We are grateful to play a small part in preserving the park for future generations.”

Concessions will be run by Stensland Family Farms, like the rest of the city’s pools. The hope is to open the bathhouse in the next couple of weeks, although the community space inside won’t be rented for events this year. In the future, it could become a warming house if ice skating is added at the park.

The McKennan wading pool is free and geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, Nelson said.

“Once you start to hit second grade or so, that’s what the regular pools are for,” she said, adding that the wading pool will be staffed with at least three lifeguards and a pool manager.

The city expects it to be busy, she added.

“I think everyone is excited to use it, so we want to make sure it’s a pleasurable experience for everybody.”

Like the rest of the city pools, the McKennan Park wading pool will be open daily from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Swim passes are on sale and can be purchased at any outdoor pool other than McKennan as well as the indoor Midco Aquatic Center.

All pools will open Friday, including Kuehn Pool. Construction is underway for the new aquatic center at that location, which is scheduled to open next year, but the current pool will remain operational until the  new one is ready. The same approach will be used at Frank Olson Pool as the city begins work on a new recreation center at that park.

“Hiring is going great,” Nelson added.

The city has hired 107 outdoor life guards, 13 cashiers and 11 pool managers, though “we are constantly hiring because things up come and things happen,” she continued. “We’re are always looking for people that would like to watch water for us.”

The city changed its approach to swim lessons this year, offering time slots via a lottery instead of based on whomever is in line first.

“It’s definitely a trial, but we hope it works well, and we get a lot of positive comments,” Nelson said.

Many popular programs will be returning to the pools, along with some new additions.

The first “dive-in” movie of the season will be “Finding Nemo” at 7:30 p.m. June 5 at Laurel Oak Family Aquatic Center.

The “wiggle bridge” from the Midco Aquatic Center will relocate to Frank Olson Pool June 8-29, followed by Kuehn Pool in July.

There will be a new rubber duck race in the lazy river at the Drake Springs Family Aquatic Center from 5 to 6:30 p.m. June 21.

An extension of the popular cardboard boat race will be July 2 at Terrace Park Family Aquatic Center as a human battleship edition. Instead of racing others, boaters will be battling with water balloons in an attempt to sink opponents. Participants also will be able to use their Nerf guns to battle each other.

But enjoy the pools while you can. They will close Aug. 9 this year, about a week earlier than other years, because of the need to control operating costs citywide.

Splash pads will remain open later in the season at Hayward Park, Jacobson Plaza and Pioneer Park. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.