By Steve Edwards
The Crozet Park Pool is gearing up for another exciting summer swim season. Managed by the Claudius Crozet Park, Inc., a non-profit organization that has been in existence since the late 1950’s, the pool strives to be the summer place to cool down for the Crozet community. Crozet Park Pool is a public swimming facility offering eight 25-meter lanes and a zero-depth entry area for handicap accessibility. The pool is also home to the Crozet Gators Swim Team, which ranked 3rd out of 16 teams in the Jefferson Area Swim League in 2008.
Until a couple years ago, the pool operated very simply. Patrons had to bring their own lawn chairs, bathrooms did not offer baby-changing stations and the grounds were kept simple. More recently, the Pool Committee, which is comprised of eight volunteers, has been determined to set Crozet Park Pool apart from other swimming facilities in the area. Last year, the pool offered 48-chaise-lounge chairs for free use during the summer, a baby changing station in the women’s bathroom, new floor tile in both the bathrooms, an expanded concession stand menu, new tile at the zero-depth entry area and staff uniforms. The pool also replaced the storage shed, the two primary pumps, converted the sand filters to a longer-lasting environmentally safe filter media called Zeobrite®, and created an outdoor patio area.
This year, the pool’s water sanitation process has been completely converted to an improved, safer water treatment system called ChlorKing®. It’s no longer necessary to have staff handle hazardous and expensive chemicals. The system creates a natural antiseptic environment that prevents bacteria and algae from forming. Potentially, it could reduce system running costs by up to 80 percent annually. While chlorine exposure to humans is often harsh, this system will be much kinder and gentler to bodies. There will be no more chlorine taste or smell; however, swimmers might notice a slightly salty taste to the water, which is normal with this system.
Other improvements being made this year include replacing the wading pool pump, adding furniture to the outdoor patio area, improvements in the concession stand, adding a more formal reception counter in the breezeway, and more informative bulletin boards that will be updated on a regular basis. Changes to the pool house will keep birds from nesting above the bathrooms and concession stand. In addition, staff positions have been added to improve customer service and boost the aquatic programming offered at the pool.
Launched May 1, a new pool website offers users a more efficient way of getting information about rates, programs, events, news and even application and rental forms. These pages enable the community to provide the pool committee and staff with comments and suggestions through email. Surveys will also posted online periodically to help direct the future of the pool. If you would like to be on the pool’s email list, go to www.crozetpark.org, enter your email address and click subscribe to receive future announcements. Next summer, the pool committee is looking towards having the website serve as a way to accept season passes, perhaps swim team applications, credit card payments, job applications, etc.
Of concern to the pool committee as well, is the area between the front doors of the pool and the playground across the driveway. There will be a new traffic pattern when the pool opens this summer. Please be alert when driving to the pool for the first time, and please drive slowly.
Pool Opening
The pool will open Memorial Day Weekend with normal hours. After that holiday, the pool will be open only on the weekends until Albemarle County schools let out for the summer. Once schools are out, the pool will be open everyday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. until school starts again in late August. After school starts, the pool may remain open only on weekends. Changes to hours will be announced in August.
Daily Pass Rates
Daily pool admission has not increased from last year. The daily pool rates for admission between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. are: under 2, free; ages 2-11, $4; ages 12-59, $7; and ages 60 and older, $3 After six o’clock, the above rates will be reduced by $2.
Season Pass Rates:
Season Pass costs did not increase from last year. A season swim pass offers families great savings on swim team fees, special events and swimming admission. Register before May 25th to take advantage of the lowest rates.
Through 5/25/09: Adult Pass (12-59 yrs): $135; Senior Pass (60 yrs +): $85; Family of 2: $195; Family of 3: $255; Family of 4: $315; Family of 5 or more: $375.
After 5/25/09: Adult Pass (12-59 yrs): $160; Senior Pass (60 yrs +): $85; Family of 2: $245; Family of 3: $305; Family of 4: $365; Family of 5 or more: $425.
Children under 2 years old are free on a family pass
Special Events
Three special events planned this year and all are open to the public. All events will begin after the pool is closed for the day.
Friday, June 12: Dinner and a Movie, 8 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, July 4: Dinner and Late Swim, 8 to 10 p.m.
Friday, July 17: Dinner and a Movie, 8 to 11 p.m.
These events will be free to season-pass holders. Admission for non-season pass holders will be $4. Children five and under will be free. Check the website for more information regarding the movie selection and other special events.
Pool Manager
Rob Ayres is the new pool manager this summer. He teaches history and coaches football at Monticello High School. Ayres’ pool experience began as a lifeguard in high school and college before taking over the managerial duties at the Indian Acres Resort in Thornburg, Virginia, where he worked for four years as the pool manager. Mr. Ayres’ goals for the Crozet Park Pool include more programs and activities such as night swims, lifeguard competitions, pool Olympics and other aquatics activities.
Aquatics Program
With the advent of a new Aquatic Program Coordinator, there will be one person to go to for all matters regarding swim lessons and other classes, therefore improving the efficiency of the aquatic programming activities at the pool. Please email all suggestions for classes to: [email protected].
Crozet Gator Swim Team (CGST)
The Crozet Gators continue to swim their way to the top with persistence, hard work and dedication under the guidance of some terrific coaches.
Don “Doc” Remaly is back as Head Coach!
After taking a one year hiatus, Doc returns as Head Coach to the Crozet Gator Swim Team. This will be Doc’s fifth year of coaching the team. He brings over 20 years of coaching experience and is a certified ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association) Level 5 Coach, the highest professional level recognized. Doc began his swimming career with his summer league in Harrisburg, PA, when he was 9 years old. He met his wife, Shelley, while swimming on their winter swim team in Hershey, PA and became a Division III All-American swimmer while attending Johns Hopkins University. While practicing family medicine in Bloomsburg, PA, he served as the volunteer head coach of the Bloomsburg Area YMCA Barracudas, guiding them over 16 years to numerous state team championships and multiple YMCA National titles in both individual and relay events. In 1997, he was voted the National YMCA Coach of the Year. He also coached two BAY swimmers at the 2000 Olympic team trials. In 2003, he joined the CYAC coaching staff and serves as Head Coach of the YMCA team. He also serves as an assistant coach for the University of Virginia men’s and women’s swim team and continues to practice medicine part-time. He and his wife raised three children who were competitive swimmers.
Kevin Boyd – Assistant Coach
After taking a one year break from coaching to teach in Germany, Kevin returns for his fourth year as a Crozet Gator Assistant Coach. He began his swimming career with the Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta and went on to compete at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. His mentoring as a coach took place at the Cooper Fitness Center and Swim Team with Jerry Heidenreich, an Olympic swimmer at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. Kevin was a swim coach and swim technique instructor with Swim Atlanta for 5 years before moving to Charlottesville in 2005. Since then he has been a swim coach with the CYAC YMCA team in Charlottesville and a regular fixture on the Crozet deck. He is certified as an ASCA level 2 coach. He is currently working toward his Ph.D. in Germanic Languages and Literature at the University of Virginia. He is married and has two young sons.
Julian Carta – Assistant Coach
Julian will be returning for his third year as a Crozet Gator Coach in late June once he returns from London. He started swimming at the age of 6 on the Boar’s Head team and continued until his graduation from Western Albemarle High School in 2006. He participated with the YMCA team in Charlottesville and swam with the WAHS swim team for 4 years. During his senior year, he was captain of the WAHS team and helped lead the men’s team to a district win. Julian also played on the WAHS lacrosse team. He is a third year student at James Madison University working toward a degree in International Relations and is presently involved in a one year study abroad at Oxford.
Patricia Deale – Assistant Coach
Patricia is coaching the Crozet Gators for the first time this year. Patricia was a Crozet Gator swimmer for 9 years, her younger sister, Caroline, continues to swim on the team and both of her parents are active volunteers. She was also a lifeguard at the Crozet pool for 3 years and taught swim lessons the past two years. Patricia is currently attending Radford University where she is seeking a degree in Elementary Education.
Daniel Corley – Assistant Coach
Daniel is a first year coach, but a long time Crozet Gator. Daniel joined the Gator swim team at the age of 5, swimming on the team for 14 years before he graduated from Western Albemarle High School last year. He also spent his summers as a lifeguard, assistant manager, and swim instructor at the Crozet Pool. His younger sister, Anna, continues to swim on the team, and his mother has been a long time active member of the team. Daniel’s was also a year-round swimmer with the YMCA facilities in Charlottesville and Waynesboro and a high school swimmer with the Western Albemarle High School team all 4 years. He presently attends Lincoln College in Illinois where he swims on the college team. He is majoring in Pharmacy Studies.
Lara Berti – Assistant Coach (5 & 6 year olds)
Lara started as a junior coach with the Crozet Gator swim team in 2005 and landed her first official assistant coach job this year as a high school junior. She has been a member of the Crozet Gator swim team since she was 5 years old and will continue her status as a swimmer this year. She was a member of the CYAC team for 6 years and has been a member of the Western Albemarle High School team since the ninth grade. For the past three years, Lara has been a swim instructor and a lifeguard at the Crozet Pool.
