Aquatic Center Set to Open in June

As the opening date for the sparkling new $13 million Cumming Aquatic Center inches closer (), Parks and Recreation Director Greg Little announced Monday that Carla Wilson has been named to manage the facility and Jeremy Howell will become the assistant facility manager.

Wilson moved to Georgia this week from Florida. She worked for Disney Cruise Lines at their private island resort in the Bahamas for nine years. Howell has been employed by the city's Parks and Recreation Department where he was aquatic coordinator for the outdoor pool.

Little said he's pleased to have both on board for the opening of the 50,000 square foot center, which he said would be in early June. Despite this winter's heavy snowfall and some severe thunderstorms in recent weeks, construction has moved along without any serious work stoppage.

"Winter (Construction, Inc.) has done a great job," Little said, "They've kept everybody on their toes and working. If we get substantial completion like we're expecting then we can open by early June."

Crews are busy putting in the landscaping outside and plastering the pools on the inside as well as filling the pools."I'm very excited about it even though we've got a lot left to do in the next two months," Little added.

The center will include two indoor pools, one of which will be a 10-lane, Olympic-sized 50-meter competition pool with permanent seating for more than 700 spectators and temporary seating for an additional 300. Permanent seating is on the second level and every seat has an excellent view of the pool.

The second indoor pool will have a therapeutic pool with four lanes that is wheelchair accessible. There also is a spacious dressing area with lockers. Outdoors there is a kiddie play pool plus a lazy river spray and mushroom area surrounded by cabanas.

Like most capital projects the city builds, the aquatic center will be fully funded before it opens.

While construction has been going on, city officials have been busy hiring staff, setting operating hours and a fee schedule.

The leisure pool will be open:

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The competition pool will be open:

Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. t0 8 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to  5 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m. t0 5 p.m.

Hours for the instructional pool will be:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Little said the county will not sell memberships but had created a fee schedule for the inaugural season.

"Tickets will not go on sale until a week before the facility opens," he said.

Daily admission fees will range between $2 and $5. Children under 2 get in free. Monthly Passes will also be available ranging between $25 and $40. Annual passes will cost $150 to $225. Family passes are available with the price based on the number of family members.

For more information on operating hours and fees, call the at 770-781-2030.