Two Santa Barbara community pools open Tuesday
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Two of Santa Barbara’s community pools are opening again. The openings are just in time for a heatwave moving across the South Coast.
The Oak Park Wading Pool reopened at noon. It’s open 12-5 p.m. seven days a week. The Ortega Park Pool opened at 1 p.m. Tuesday. It also is open seven days a week from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Both pools will remain open daily through August 13.
Tony Sholl, the Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation aquatics supervisor, said the pools are free and are first come, first served. The pools have a limited capacity, so they will limit the number of swimmers at each pool.
Kids made a splash jumping into summer at those Santa Barbara community pools, geared towards families.
Jackie Ruggiero went to Oak Park Wading Pool with her friend and their kids. She said, "It's great we love the water is super nice and cool. The kids are having fun."
Ruggiero's son, Brian, likes the water fountain in the middle. He said, "I like going under the water back there and I can feel the water on my back."
Swimmers were extra happy because the pools were closed last summer due to COVID-19 rules.
"I was super bummed out," said Ruggiero. "We used to come all the time so we're really happy that the city decided to open it. Yesterday was super hot. And today as well. So thankfully it opened today. It's perfect timing."
While most COVID-19 restrictions are gone, there are still other safety rules in place.
One of the lifeguards yelled out a reminder, ""Do not run on deck. No running on deck."
Heading into pool and beach season, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department is reminding swimmers and parents to be careful in the water. Drowning is the number two cause of death for children ages one to four, behind only birth defects, the department said.
"Many of these children drown in pools at people’s homes - often during times no one was supposed to be swimming,” the department said in a Facebook post.
That's why swimmers 13 or younger need a parent or guardian. Lifeguards say knowing the rules, increases the fun.
Ben Amboy has lifeguarded in Santa Barbara for three years. He said, "Learning the rules here is going to help you when you're at private pools and having pool parties when there isn't someone there to rescue you."
Lifeguards recommend having a designated person to watch the water.
"It's not like what you see on TV or in the movies," said Sholl, "with the big arms flapping around and everything making a bunch of noise. People drown without a sound."
The pools are free. There are capacity limits for space in the water. And if it gets busy a one-hour time limit is put in place.
To learn more about the three pools in Santa Barbara visit the Parks and Recreation website.
