It’s almost pool time in Odessa

YMCA still training, hiring lifeguards

Woodson Park Aquatic Center's pool is seen empty for repairs and cleaning Wednesday in Odessa. City pools will open from May 28 through July 31. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

With Odessa families just days away from being able to jump in city pools and cool down at its spraygrounds, the YMCA is on the hunt for lifeguards.

The Odessa City Council voted unanimously in March to award the YMCA a $495,000 contract to operate the city’s aquatic facilities from May 28 through July 31.

So far, the YMCA has hired about half of the 90 lifeguards it needs for swim lessons and the Jurassic Jungle Sprayground, Sherwood Family Aquatic Center, Woodson Family Aquatic Center and Floyd Gwin pool, said Crissy Medina, chief executive officer for the YMCA.

City of Odessa Parks and Recreation’s Ryan Wicklander cleans tiles after replacing four near the coping of the pool at Woodson Park Aquatic Center Wednesday in Odessa. City pools will open from May 28 through July 31. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

An onsite hiring fair will also be held Monday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 3001 E. University and the YMCA is offering a certification class May 21-22.

The lifeguard positions are perfect for high school and college students who are looking for a fun job and to learn lifelong skills, Medina said. Throughout the summer the YMCA will be holding in-service sessions so lifeguards can keep their skills fresh.

“It’s an excellent first job,” she said.

The YMCA is excited to be partnering with the City of Odessa again, she said.

Unlike the group that ran the pools last year, Medina said the YMCA has experience operating the city’s facilities, having done so in 2018 and 2019.

“With that experience we really learned what it takes to run them,” Medina said. “We’ll be providing a safe environment where the family can come out and have fun.”

In fact, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the pools will remain open an extra hour for family nights, she said. Movies will be shown on occasion and other activities will be held.

City of Odessa Parks and Recreation’s aquatic technician Alonzo Ramirez cleans grates in the deep end of the pool at Woodson Park Aquatic Center Wednesday in Odessa. City pools will open from May 28 through July 31. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

In addition to offering swim lessons and regular pool hours, Medina said families and organizations will be able to rent the pools on off hours for birthday parties and company picnics, too.

Pool Hours

Sherwood

1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays

Closed Tuesdays

1 p.m. – 8 p.m . Thursdays

$4 for adults, $2.50 for children 2 and older, free for children 1 and younger and residents 65 and older

Woodson

1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays

1 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesdays

Closed Thursdays

$4 for adults, $2.50 for children 2 and older, free for children 1 and younger and residents 65 and older

Floyd Gwin

1 p.m. -7 p.m., Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays

Closed Wednesdays

1 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays

$3 for adults, $1.50 for children 2 and older, free for children 1 and younger and residents 65 and older

Jurassic Sprayground

McKinney Sprayground

1 p.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, free

Season passes (25 visits) can be purchased at the YMCA. Tickets for Sherwood and Woodson are $45 for youths and $75 for adults. Tickets for Floyd Gwin are $20 for youths and $50 for adults.

In addition, the Woodson and Sherwood Acquatic Centers can be rented during off-hours for $385 an hour, two-hour maximum. The price to rent the pool at Floyd Gwin is $105 an hour.

The spray gun at the Jurassic Sprayground can be rented for $235 an hour.

For more information, call 432-362-4301.