Aquatic center opens to rave reviews

It didn’t take long to figure out what features at the new Glenwood Aquatic Center are going to be among the most popular with young swimmers.

Within minutes of Friday afternoon’s grand opening, youngsters were waiting to get splashed by the big blue dump bucket and a line had formed at the lily pad walk. For teenagers, the low and high diving boards and the volleyball and basketball areas of the pool proved popular.

“The opening went well,” Mills County YMCA Executive Director Diana Burchett said. “After 12 years of no outdoor pool, it’s very much appreciated by the community. People like all the features.”
The $5 million facility is owned by the city of Glenwood on land leased from the Glenwood Community School District for $1 a year. The facility is being managed by the YMCA.

During a ceremony held minutes before Friday’s official opening, Glenwood Community School District Superintendent Devin Embray praised the unique partnership that made the outdoor swimming facility a reality.

“It’s for the community, by the community and an investment in our children,” Embray said.

Mary Gunderson, who’s served as a community advocate for the project, noted the significance of the aquatic center opening.

“It’s been a long time coming"

“It’s been a long time since this community has had an outdoor pool,” Gunderson said, noting her daughter who will be a high school freshman this fall was 2 years old when the city closed its former outdoor pool on Elm Street.

Over 1300 swimmers came to the aquatic center for opening weekend - 477 on Friday, 467 on Saturday and 357 on Sunday.
Many pool patrons voiced their approval of the facility in person to staff members and on social media sites. A slideshow of opening day photos at the aquatic center received well over 200 “likes” on The Opinion-Tribune Facebook page and several positive comments.
“So cool for Glenwood,” Jessica Griffith Meester wrote.
Similar thoughts were shared by Magarita Toth Sundermann. “Spectacular!” she said.