By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
At its meeting Monday night, Elkhorn’s Common Council approved admission price and hours for Elkhorn’s new swimming facility at Sunset Park, expected to open this summer.
Director of Parks and Recreation Wendy Meyer wrote in a memo to the council with numerous calls coming in inquiring about prices and hours for the pool, it was crucial to get the fee structure and hours set so she could move forward with promoting membership and beginning advertising, beginning with the department’s Summer Guide, which will be released on April 7.
The price of a daily pass to the pool will be $5 for both city residents and non-residents. Individual membership passes, good for unlimited use of Sunset Pool, water aerobics and open lap swim will be $75 for City of Elkhorn residents, ages three and older, and $100 for non-residents. A family of four pass is $145 for residents, $195 for non-residents, and additional family members and one baby-sitter can be added for an extra $10 per person. Proof of identification is required at the time of purchase.
As for hours of operation, the pool will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Private pool rental is available from 9-10:30 a.m. and from 5-8 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays, depending upon availability.
In Meyer’s memo, she wrote she had been researching, discussing and analyzing information with city staff and parks and recreation directors from other cities with similar swimming facilities to determine what would be suitable for Elkhorn.
“Our old pool membership is outdated and would never meet the needs of helping to recover a portion of 2015 operating costs,” she wrote.
Additionally, she wrote that the prices need to be raised from 2013 rates to help offset the cost of additional staffing at the new pool, as it is larger and requires more staffing.
As for daily passes, Meyer said Monday they found it simpler to give both residents and non-residents the same rate, as Elkhorn is made up of a much larger school district that what actually resides in the city.
The council approved the fee structure unanimously.
