Tag: Announcements

26.05 Pool Opening Delayed Until At Least June 3 😔

Dear Members,

Unfortunately, although we addressed the items identified during our inspection, the New Mexico Environment Department is unable to return for a re-inspection until June 2. Because state approval is required before we can open, the earliest possible opening date is now Wednesday, June 3.

This has been frustrating for us as well, especially since we pay inspection fees each time they come out and some of the issues cited were things we have observed at other pools in even worse condition. We asked whether photographs of the completed fixes could be accepted so that we could open sooner, but they informed us that an in-person re-inspection is required.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while we work through the state approval process. We will continue preparing the facility so we are ready to open as soon as we receive clearance.

Thanks for supporting East Park Pool.

The slide has to be relocated because the water is 6″ too shallow.
Unbolting the slide was no easy task. Setting anchors in the new location won’t be, either.
Wood shims for this railing weren’t acceptable.
New brass shims installed

26.05 Pool Opening Delayed 😭

Greetings Members & Friends,

Unfortunately, we had a particularly meticulous inspector on Thursday. We are unable to address all the issues they found before this weekend. Even though the pool is otherwise ready to go and these issues haven’t caused a problem in all the years we’ve been open, we could get into serious trouble if we open without a passing inspection. The pool board has decided not to take that risk and delay opening until next weekend at the earliest.

We are really sorry, folks. We’re doing the best we can.

If you think we should take the risk and open anyway, then maybe YOU should consider joining the board! There’s no pay, long hours, and hard labor. But when you see folks enjoying themselves in the pool, it makes it worth it. And who knows? Maybe you’ve got better ideas than us. If you’re interested, please send an email to board@eastparkpool.org.

New Reservation System

We’ve had several requests from the community regarding swim lane reservations and private rentals. To help maintain fair access, we’re asking members to reserve swim lanes. We hope it will help members coordinate use. You can also request recurring reservations, but please commit to those reservations since they can exclude other swimmers from using the facility. Reservations will be displayed on our calendar so you can know in advance how busy it will be. Reservations will be reviewed and confirmed by staff so it may take up to 24 hours before they are published on the calendar. If there are any issues with your reservation, staff will contact you.

Is the pool open?

We are also working on providing webcam snapshots and better status updates to allow members to see the current status of the pool, e.g. lightning closures.

Thanks for supporting East Park Pool.

26.05 Pool Lighting Update

Greetings EPP Members,

We’re working hard to repair the pool lighting so we can be open later in the evening this year. We hope this will help meet the need for all the displaced aquatic center users.

The bronze fixtures are in surprisingly good shape after more than 60 seasons submerged in chlorinated water. The seals degraded long ago, and many of the bolts have rusted in place, but we were able to break most of them free with a little penetrating oil, a hammer drill, and some elbow grease. We’ll have to use a bolt extractor to get those last stubborn bolts that disintegrated on us, though. We ordered new silicone seals that fit perfectly. We were worried that they might’ve changed in 60 years, but apparently it’s a good standard. We also ordered new super bright LED lights and high quality 316 stainless steel bolts that should outlast the pool. Those should be here on Tuesday.

Thanks to everyone who has showed up for the work parties. We have one more work party next Saturday, May 16 9am – 12pm. We hope to have the lighting finished by the middle of next week so we can fill the pool. Opening Day is just two weeks away!

Our membership numbers are trending lower than last year so if you’ve been on the fence about membership, we’d really like you to sign up!

Thanks for supporting East Park Pool!

East Park Pool Opens Memorial Day Weekend

East Park Pool is preparing to open for the season on Memorial Day weekend—a community tradition every summer since 1962.

Memberships are now available at https://eastparkpool.org/memberships.

East Park relies entirely on voluntary community support to operate each summer. Members enjoy unlimited access to swimming, guest passes and a welcoming space to gather with friends and family, and member appreciation events all summer long. Members also have access to party rentals and swim lessons throughout the season for a nominal fee.

To get ready for opening day, we need volunteers every Saturday in May from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Your help is essential to prepare the facility for a safe and successful season.

Help keep this long-standing community resource thriving.

All-Member Meeting This Thursday

Greetings Members!

There will be an all-member meeting this Thursday at 6:30 on Google Meet. Agenda includes:

  • Presentation of the end-of-year report
  • Election of officers for next year
  • Discussion and possible vote on a bylaw amendment to formally authorize the board to urgent executive decisions like pool maintenance
  • Brainstorming ideas to improve the pool for next season

Please consider putting your name in the hat for a board position with a sentence or two about what you’d like to accomplish. Positions include:

  • President
  • Vice president
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Membership chair
  • Facilities chair
  • Programming chair
  • Publicity chair

If there’s another role you think should be on there, let us know.

All-Member Meeting
Thursday, Oct 30 • 18:30 – 19:30
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fna-cctt-bkm

June 2025 Newsletter: Safety Update

Dear East Park Pool Members & Friends,

We’re thrilled to see so many families enjoying the pool this season! As our pool community grows busier, we want to ensure that the fun doesn’t come at the expense of safety. A few recent member observations have helped highlight areas where we can do better.

Reports of distracted guarding have been shared with the pool manager. All staff are being reminded of our policies around focus, professionalism, and the importance of remaining alert while on duty.

We’re compiling a clear set of pool rules and staff protocols, including expectations for off-duty conduct and guard rotations. These will be shared with members and posted at the pool soon.

We are exploring a mid-season training session to re-emphasize water safety standards and the importance of guard presence.

We’re grateful to our team of guards for keeping the pool open in a tight labor year—but we also recognize the importance of setting and maintaining high standards. We appreciate your partnership in this effort.

Thanks for supporting East Park Pool!

– East Park Pool Board

Safety Reminder: Large Floaty Toys Only On Fridays

We love seeing kids enjoy their giant inflatables, but we must ask you only being them on Fridays. These toys require extra supervision, and limiting them to designated times ensures our guards can maintain clear sightlines and prioritize swimmer safety.

Welcome New Board Member Phillip Ortega!

We’re excited to welcome Phillip Ortega to the East Park Pool Board! A recent member and longtime Los Alamos resident, Phillip brings over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including his current role as Board Chair of JJAB. He also works with youth as the Director of Faith Development at FUMC Los Alamos. With a strong background in technology and community engagement, Phillip is eager to help us improve operations and support a  welcoming pool communuty. Please join us in thanking him for stepping up to serve!

Fourth of July Pool Party

shallow focus photography of firecracker
Photo by Rathnahar Sriom on Pexels.com

Join us at East Park Pool for our Independence Day celebration! We’ll fire up the grill at noon with complimentary burgers and hot dogs—just bring your favorite sides or swap in your own BBQ fare. Dive into pool games, enjoy festive tunes, and soak up summer fun with friends and family. Don’t forget you can purchase additional guest passes for only $5!

Sign Up Now For Swim Lessons July 7-18

East Park Pool members can enroll children in two‐week lessons (July 7–18), weekdays 9 AM–11 AM. Taught by our lifeguards (10:1 student‐to‐guard ratio), these lessons build water familiarity, basic skills, and fun! During classes, pool access is reserved for students only. Cost is $50 per student. Pay by check or via PayPal. Questions? Email instructors@eastparkpool.org.

Looking for something more advanced? Join our swim team! Visit eastparkpool.org/team or email coaches@eastparkpool.org for details.

ID Cards Now Available

If you haven’t picked up your ID card yet, our guard room staff can print or email it to you. Also please make sure your email and emergency contact information is up to date so we can communicate with you when there’s closures, etc.

East Park Pool Opens Tomorrow!

Welcome to the 2025 pool season! We’ve got a few quick updates:

Temporary Hours (May 26–30): Due to our amazing lifeguards finishing their last week of school, we’ll be open Monday–Friday, 4:15 PM to 8:15 PM next week only. Our regular summer schedule begins Friday, May 31. Check eastparkpool.org/calendar for more info.

Swim lessons begin June 1! Spots fill quickly so sign up today at eastparkpool.org/lessons.

Membership IDs remain the same as last year. New members will receive their ID via email this weekend or can pick it up at the pool. Every membership includes 10 guest passes to share with friends and family. Need more? Additional guest passes are available for $5 each. Check eastparkpool.org/memberships for more info.

Host your summer party at the pool! Reserve a pavilion for up to 2 hours and invite up to 30 guests. Book now at eastparkpool.org/reservations. Waivers are required for all guests so have them fill it out in advance at eastparkpool.org/waiver.

Thanks for making it a great summer at East Park Pool. See you in the water!