This looks very nice! Sort of reminds me how the pool at Waverley Oaks use to be years ago.

The pool is great! All DCR needs to do now is provide a small area for people who actually want to swim laps without crashing into other users. It's almost impossible to actually swim there given how crowded the pool is and the totally unstructured usage approach. On any given day, you might see 1 or 2 people at most out of 300 or 400 in the pool actually trying to swim laps. It's almost impossible! Lap lanes would help avoid the problem once described by Yogi Berra: "its so crowded that nobody goes there anymore."

Andrew,

I love your idea but the point of the pool is to cater to a wide range of people, not just adults. Adults can go to Walden Pond for longer swim routes.

Ryan-Thanks for your response. My suggestion for a "small lap area" (like a 6 or 8 foot wide lane area, along the SHORT edge of the pool) would not prevent any other uses of the pool. In fact, it would provide EXACTLY what you are suggesting: a "pool that caters to a wide range of people" (which hopefully includes people who swim). The suggested lap swimming area would be on the adult side of the pool so it would have no impact on the kids section at all. Sounds like you haven't actually used the pool yet. Try it! You'll see what I mean.

I agree Ryan, laps in a public pool? Not anymore!

Exactly -- the pool should cater to a wide range of people -- including people (children and adults) who would like to actually swim in the pool. The new facility is fabulous, and playing in the water should be encouraged. But so should swimming for both exercise and fun. Right now, weak swimmers don't have a chance to improve because there is no "safe haven" for them to practice. By setting aside a swim zone with a couple of lap lanes at the deep end of the pool, DCR would provide a much safer environment for everyone -- including the guards!

In design, with a zero depth entrance, the pool isn't really designed for laps. It would be a really short lap, taking away space from the general public from using the entire pool.

You could possibly set aside hours for lap swimming. Most club pools only do laps at certain time. DCR could try this at the Waltham site and evaluate use and make a decision for the long term.

BW - the location of the suggested "lap area" would NOT be anywhere near the "zero depth" pool entrance. Just to be clear: the area I am suggesting lap swimming uses the WIDTH of the pool (not the length) on the DEEP end wall (the east side of the pool, closest to Newton St.). It is about a 40 foot distance across the width of the pool, which is a perfect lap distance. NOT talking about going across the length of the pool, which is much longer, and WOULD interfere with many other users. This could work very well and make everybody happy.

The ten feet or so of the pool closest to Newton Street -- which is the deepest part, at 4'10" -- has actually been roped off since the pool's opening. I overheard a lifeguard saying it had something to do with a pump not yet installed at that end. But that would make the perfect area for Andrew's suggestion.