By By Matthew Nascone
As the summer heat kicks up, the season is winding down for the pools in the area. At the Tom Byrne Park Pool the youth swimmers are enjoying their final days in the sun before they have to report back to classes.
Pool director Betty Warren said this summer has been a good one for the pool.
"It has been a real good summer," Warren said. "We have had very few scrapes and that is always a plus. When we don't have people getting hurt, then it is a good summer. It is great when the kids can come out here and have a good time and be safe at the same time."
Along with the no injury summer has come a packed full party summer at the pool, according to Warren.
"We have had more birthday parties this year than ever before," she said.
She said the pool has entertained children and adults for somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-60 birthday bashes.
"People wanted to come to the pool for their parties this year," she said.
The extremely hot summer and the drought might have had something to do with the burst in birthday parties for the pool this summer.
Warren said another group of people has taken full use of the pool this year.
"The churches in the area have also taken full advantage of the pool this year," Warren said. "They have brought their youth here as a reward for good deeds in summer camps and such."
Warren said First United Methodist Church has brought their youth to the pool every Wednesday night after fellowship. The FUMC group have become regulars at the pool and Warren said many of the other churches in the area have used the pool as a place to have a good time this summer also.
"This is the perfect place for them to bring their children because they can come over here and swim and then go over to the park and have a cookout," she said.
Warren has been a staple at the pool for many years and she said working at the pool in the summer has a special place in her heart.
"I can't imagine not being here at the pool in the summer," she said. "It is the highlight of my year each year. And it has been good to see a bunch of new faces this summer."
The last day of operation for Tom Byrne Park Pool in 2007 is Aug. 3.