Vonda Wooten Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Lifeguard shortage affects Oak Ridge pool hours

Posted at 4:14 pm June 7, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

*The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)*

A nationwide lifeguard shortage is affecting the hours that Oak Ridge’s municipal pools will be open this summer, the city said in a press release Monday.

“Due to the lower number of lifeguards this year, there are not enough people to staff both pools for the same hours they were open in previous seasons,” Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Aquatics Manager Vonda Wooten said in the press release.

The indoor pool at the Civic Center will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Swim lessons are from 9 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the press release said. Open lap is from 12:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.

[Read more…]

Reminder: Puppy Pool Party is today

Posted at 12:48 pm August 19, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road in 2016. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

Reminder: The Second Annual Puppy Pool Party is today at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Municipal Swimming Pool on Providence Road today (Saturday, August 19).

The Puppy Pool Party is hosted by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. It’s scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

The last day for public swimming was yesterday (Friday, August 18).

“This is the second year for the puppy pool party, an event which marks the end of the summer swimming season at the outdoor pool,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said. “Owners may only wade in water up to knee deep and must clean up after their pet. Children are not allowed in the pool during the event.” [Read more…]

Second Annual Puppy Pool Party is Saturday, Aug. 19

Posted at 9:49 pm August 8, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road in 2016. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The Second Annual Puppy Pool Party is at the Outdoor Municipal Swimming Pool on Saturday, August 19.

It’s scheduled for the day after public swimming ends for the season. The last day for public swimming will be Friday, August 18, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. The puppy pool party will take place on Saturday, August 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Puppy Pool Party is hosted by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

“This is the second year for the puppy pool party, an event which marks the end of the summer swimming season at the outdoor pool,” the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. “Owners may only wade in water up to knee deep and must clean up after their pet. Children are not allowed in the pool during the event.” [Read more…]

Recreation and Parks announces spring indoor pool events

Posted at 6:44 pm March 12, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is offering several classes and events at the Civic Center’s indoor pool this spring, a press release said.

Spring Break Open Swim Extended Hours: First, to take full advantage of spring break, the indoor pool will operate on extended hours between Monday, March 13, and Friday, March 24. Open swim times are as follows:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ORCA Swim Team: Sign-ups for the Oak Ridge City Aquatics (ORCA) swim team are open through Tuesday, March 28, when the spring session begins. ORCA is open to anyone 5-18 years old and the only prerequisite is the ability to swim 25 yards unassisted. Practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. The swim team fee is $70 ($80 for those living outside of Oak Ridge). The season runs from March 28 through May 18.

Adult Swimming Lessons: Beginner and intermediate level adult swimmers are invited to enroll in a swim course that will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays between March 7 and March 23. Classes are scheduled between 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on those days.

Red Cross Swim Lessons: Red Cross Swim Lessons are also offered in two sessions this spring: [Read more…]

Registration open for lifeguard certification course

Posted at 12:09 pm January 20, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Registration is now open for a Lifeguard Certification Course being offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department over spring break. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

Registration is now open for a lifeguard certification course being offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department during spring break.

The course will be held Monday, March 20, through Friday, March 24, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool facility. The class begins at 10 a.m. each day, and it is scheduled to run until 2:30 p.m.

There are some pre-requisites for the course. Registrants must be at least 15 years old and be able to pass the pre-swim test for admission. The test will be held on the first day of class. [Read more…]

Civic Center indoor pool re-opens after equipment repair

Posted at 12:31 am January 18, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

All programs are back on schedule after crews had to replace a piece of equipment that controls the temperature of the water in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

All programs are back on schedule after crews had to replace a piece of equipment that controls the temperature of the water in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool.

The pool was forced to close on Wednesday, January 4, but it re-opened at noon on Saturday, January 14, once crews were able to make the needed repairs. The new pool heater is more energy-efficient than the previous model, a press release said. The water was back up to its normal temperature of 83 degrees shortly after re-opening.

Here’s a list of some of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department programs currently under way at the indoor pool facility: [Read more…]

City offering paddleboard yoga classes at Civic Center

Posted at 1:37 pm September 29, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A unique weekly class will be offered at the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s indoor pool starting next month: paddleboard yoga.

The first class will be held on Thursday, October 13, and will continue each week on Thursdays. The one-hour class is also offered at two different times to accommodate various schedules: in the mornings from 7 to 8 a.m. and in the evenings from 8 to 9 p.m. [Read more…]