ABOVE: Danville’s Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr joins city leaders and Danville Aquatic Center at Garfield Park staff in cutting the ribbon to officially open the new pool.
The new Danville Aquatic Center at Garfield Park had the Saturday (June 15th) ribbon cutting at 10 AM, and just minutes later the pool was busy. Prior to the ribbon cutting, Community Relations Administrator Rheanna Ollis said it was obvious that people were ready.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: I think people are just super excited to finally see it open. I feel like we’ve heard about it a lot; driving by you see it coming together. So I just think people are just super excited that, you know, the day is finally here.
No one was more ready than Jennifer Denney and her daughter Marissa. They were the first two in line.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: (Jennifer) I’ve been waiting three years for this pool to open back up. (Steve) Do you go to her and say ‘I want us to be first in line, or did she come to you?’ (Marissa) I came to her, to tell her I wanted to be first in line. (Steve) Who had to get who out of bed this morning? (Marissa) I had to get her out of bed this morning. (Steve) She succeeded? (Jennifer) Yes.
(1st Picture) Lifeguards and customers gather for Saturday’s aquatic center ribbon cutting. (2nd Picture) Jennifer Denney and daughter Marissa Denney take pride in being the first customers in line. (3rd Picture) Danville Alderman Robert Williams finds a poolside lounge chair he likes.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr stated before cutting the ribbon that despite some disagreement about spending substantial ARPA COVID relief funding for this pool, he believes the City of Danville deserved a new Garfield Park Pool, and that the City Council has created a legacy for their decision to build it.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Yesterday, I was riding around doing a little last minute punch list, and I saw better than a dozen cars in probably 20 to 30 minutes riding around. People wanted to take a look. The truth is, if we had closed the pool, we would never have a public pool in Danville again. So I’m proud of it.
(2nd Picture) Lifeguard Cabot McLaughlin was the first to take his seat as swimmers prepared to enter the pool.
Danville Health and Wellness Manager Jessica Lively is leading the pool staff, including some lifeguards that are actually working their first jobs. She says they are trained, and dedicated.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: You wouldn’t even be able to know that this is their first job. All of them; they’ve aced training 100% in everything that we’ve done.
The Danville Aquatic Center hours are Noon to 6 PM Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, and 2 PM to 6 PM on Sunday. Cost is $8.00 for a daily pass, with three and under free. Ten visit punch cards are available for $70.
TO HEAR LAURA WILLIAMS’ RECENT INTERVIEW WITH DANVILLE HEALTH AND WELLNESS MANAGER JESSICA LIVELY ON 1490 WDAN’S COMMUNITY CONNECTION, PLEASE GO TO https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/news-on-demand/
