Mon Valley pools prepare to open for season

Pool season is back with a splash, as several local public pools debut their summer hours.

Mineral Beach Swimming Pool

The Finleyville pool, which opened for the season in May, draws its name from a piece of pool history.

Mineral Beach pool used to be filled with mineral water from four deep wells, owner Willis Abel said.

“Years ago whenever they built this pool, there wasn't any city water,” Abel said. “They named it Mineral Beach.”

The pool has a long history.

“This pool was opened in 1924, but it's been remodeled,” Abel said. “This is a historical landmark.”

Swimmers can visit the pool located at 6299 State Route 88, Finleyville, now until Labor Day with daily hours running between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., weather permitting.

Daily admission is $6, and $3 for children 11 and younger. Pool passes are also available.

The pool offers pavilion rentals for $100 per day, pool secretary Darlene Love said.

It also provides children's birthday parties, which include swimming, inner tubes, lunch and dessert.

Crabapple Park and Pool

The pool features two diving boards, a slide and an evening swim program on Wednesdays featuring a band.

“We have an evening swim,” township recreation director Janet Schork said. “Every Wednesday, we have a band. It's made up of some of the high school kids. They're wonderful. They bring a great crowd in.”

Wednesday night programming is held from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and costs $3.

The outdoor, township-owned pool at 1415 Herminie West Newton Road in Herminie offers one-day admission along with memberships.

It opened for business June 1 and hours run from noon until 7 p.m., depending on the weather, through Labor Day. The pool will stay open later daily if it opens late because of weather.

Admission is $6, $3 for senior citizens and free for children younger than 3. After 5 p.m., entry is $3. Non-swimming chaperones get in free.

It hosts “evening splash” parties during which people can rent the entire pool.

The park grounds feature a pavilion, which is available for rental, and a concession stand.

Schork said they're considering an “Aquacize” program during which the pool would open in the morning or evening for swimmers looking to exercise. Swimmers could make laps in the pool or use exercise equipment, she said.

“We're really trying to expand what we offer to the community. We're competing now with people who have their own pools,” Schork said. “We're trying to work on some youth programs as well, something for the kids to do in the summers.”

Swim lessons are also offered, Schork said.

The pool opened in 1962, township supervisor Alan Fossi said.

“The mission for that pool was to provide swim lessons for that community,” Fossi said. “We average about 100 people a year for the last 60 years. We put quite a few people through there with swim lessons.”

West Newton Community Swimming Pool

Featuring two diving boards and a newly refurbished tennis court, West Newton Community Swimming Pool opened in May for the season, which runs through Labor Day.

The pool, along Peach Alley in West Newton, will open daily from noon until 8 p.m., said Gary Johnson, a member of the pool board.

Swimmers can buy a daily pass or a pool pass to enjoy the outdoor, public swimming pool.

“We have family fun days. We have Friday night splash parties,” Johnson said. “We have a baby pool. There's tennis courts adjacent to our pool.”

Rossilynne Skena is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-6646 or rskena@tribweb.com.