Thursday, June 16th, 2022
Cool dip in a pool
State park open to public today
By William Kincaid
Photo from The Daily Standard Archives
In this 2016 file photo, children cool off in Celina's Bryson Memorial Swimming Pool, one of many swimming pools in Mercer and Auglaize counties.
ST. MARYS - The swimming pool at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park campground will be open to the public free of charge today.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that indoor and outdoor pools at several state park lodges and campgrounds will waive daily pool fees Wednesday and Thursday. That includes St. Marys State Park campground, located at 834 Edgewater Dr., St. Marys, according to a news release from DeWine's office.
The measure is intended to offer Ohioans an option to stay cool at state parks amid scorching temperatures.
"I encourage all Ohioans to take precautions throughout the week to stay safe," DeWine said in the release. "As our Ohio Emergency Management Agency continues to work with its county partners to help community members stay cool and hydrated, ODNR's offering of free admission to our state's pools is another option that Ohio families can take advantage of to cool down."
The swimming pool at St. Marys State Park is normally accessible to campers who pay a fee to stay on the grounds. For today only it will be open to the public at no charge from noon to 8 p.m., according to park manager Dave Faler.
"They will have to park at the overflow parking lot and walk all the way back there," Faler said.
The $1.3 million, U-shaped pool that opened Memorial Day weekend in 2018 measures 52-foot-by-77-foot and boasts a water slide and adjacent splash pad. It's one of numerous park improvements made possible through capital funding from the Ohio General Assembly, according to state officials.
The pool has been open Thursdays through Mondays due to a limited staff of lifeguards. That will soon change after additional lifeguards were brought onboard.
"I had been running with four until last Friday and I finally got some applicants so I could fill another five positions," Faler said. "We will be open seven days a week."
The state park campground on the northeast shore of the lake offers a variety of overnight and day-use activities including 215 campsites with most of them electric, a full-service camp store, bike rentals, miniature golf, basketball and volleyball courts.
The campground also has playground equipment, a dog park and free Wi-Fi service.
The campground has been fully booked on weekends so far, Faler said.
"The week before Memorial Day we had a full camp and we've had full camp ever since," he said.
