New Pool Heater at Waveny Helps Drive Record Pass Sales This Summer

With hot temperatures and humidity arriving this week, a dip in the pool is on the minds of many.

Early indications are that Waveny Pool will see record-breaking numbers in attendance this summer, officials say.

According to Recreation Director Steve Benko, through the first week of July, Waveny Pool has already brought in its highest attendance to date and sold an abundance of passes.

Jason Milligan, a member of the Park & Recreation Commission and Waveny Pool user, said a number of improvements and new amenities at the pool “have been well received.”

“I have personally seen a bunch of the kids using the new games that we have this year,” Milligan said. “Starting this Friday we will be having two camp counselors come over to the pool and do some games and competitions for the kids.”

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For this season so far, the New Canaan Recreation Department has sold more than 1,000 total passes, including 100 nonresidential, 695 New Canaan family, 91 individual, 149 senior and 92 nanny .

The facility has become a popular destination because of new pool heaters, members say, as well as new furniture and an active group of regulars who are arranging special events and creating a sense of community.

The New Canaan Department of Public Works installed a heater to the main pool so that the water temperature can be monitored, including early morning practices for competitive swimmers and lessons for little kids. Maddie Smith, a frequent swimmer at the pool, said the change has made a big difference.

“It’s always hard to get up for morning practice and swim in a cold pool,” she told NewCanaanite.com. “When we were told that there were heaters in the pool for our morning workouts, it instantly made getting in the pool and into our workout easier for all of us.”

Brooke Holland, in her second year as a lifeguard at Waveny Pool, said the warmer water has proven more inviting.

“In years past, parents and children wouldn’t get in the pool when it was too cold,” Holland said. “Now it seems like all the families are swimming together and having a great time.”

In addition to the members and competitive swimmers, Brooke said the Waveny Pool lifeguards are benefitting from the pool heaters.

“Having a heated pool is really nice when our drills come around or when we have to do laps,” Holland said. “It’s never too cold or too warm. It’s the perfect refreshing temperature.”

With a healthy, self-sustaining fund, town officials who oversee Waveny Poool also purchased 50 new low beach chairs.

The active group of regulars, which has been called the “Lifestyle Committee,” represents a “really big change for the pool this year,” Milligan said.

“People are a bit more involved because there is a committee of members that is making changes,” he said.