Photos by Janelle Patterson Jace Ward cleans the bottom of the pool at the Marietta Aquatic Center on Tuesday with an underwater power washer.

If you go:

Pool passes:

¯ Daily rate:

¯ Children age 3-12: $5.

¯ Youth age 13-17: $6.

¯ Adults: $7.

¯ Seniors: $6.

¯ Military: $6.

¯ Ten-visit punch cards:

¯ Children age 3-12: $45.

¯ Youth age 13-17: $50.

¯ Adults: $55.

¯ Seniors: $45.

¯ Military: $45.

Note: Entry can be purchased with cash, credit cards are not accepted; no refunds will be issued.

Source: Marietta Aquatic Center.

The Marietta Aquatic Center will reopen its doors Saturday, with a fresh look.

“We got the pumps working last night and have been checking for seal leaks and things,” said Joey Finkle as he and Shane Cochran slipped into the center again Tuesday.

But the two weren’t the only city staff proud to see a year’s worth of work coming together this week, especially after no water fun through the pandemic shutdowns last year.

“I can remember those pieces of the ship they brought to me in the shop to paint,” said Derek Brown, between painting light poles Tuesday. “It’s cool to see that all back together.”

Later, in review with Safety-Service Director Steve Wetz, the punchlist before Saturday’s noon grand reopening included both work of Professional Pool Management staff, and that of city workers.

“We’ve got a little ways to go yet, we still have some painting to do and still cleaning,” said Public Works Director Jim Wark. “But if you look at all we have done, it’s incredible. The pirate ship was renovated so it wouldn’t sink, a new foundation was put on it … all of the exposed metal has been steam blasted, cleaned, primed and repainted.”

He said initial bids for all of the work topped around $52,000 last year, but with much of the labor completed internally, that outside contracting cost was cut in half.

“(The slides) were cleaned inside and out. All of the netting on the pirate ship has been redone. All the wood around the building where (holes were) from the carpenter bees have been taken care of,” he said. “We’ve done landscaping in the front, all the light poles were painted and finished today.”

Meanwhile Pool Managers Jace Ward and Stephanie Finley, of Professional Pool Management LLC, have focused not only on training lifeguards, but some additional painting in the public-facing areas of the center’s entrance.

“I added a new mural in there by the first aid area, kind of a reminder that even when we’re on a break there’s something to be done inside, bathrooms to be checked or cleaned,” said Ward.

Behind the scenes of the brick entrance and concessions, city staff also worked to rebuild two pumps and install a new chlorine tank over the last year.

“It’s a very large tank you could park your car in it,” described Wark, noting other unnecessary structures have also been removed.

“And we’ve still got some painting to do on the gazebo, yet,” said Wark. “We also repaired the ceiling in the kitchen that was damaged by water from the air conditioning unit up in the attic.”

The bottom of the pool has both Wark and the pool managers’ eyes, too.

“We’re powerwashing the bottom today,” said Ward. “It’s been a few days of powerwashing all of the lawn chairs and getting up the new umbrellas.”

Plus, Ward and Finley are excited for the clean slate for lifeguards, families and the many children’s programs which utilize the pool not only for summer fun, but also the utility of crime prevention through proactive summer youth programs.

“There are quite a few different summer groups that will inevitably come back … like the Boys and Girls Club is a big one we always get … we’re looking forward to seeing some familiar faces,” said Ward. “Please be mindful, remember that if a guard whistles or corrects, just try to listen to it. I know it’s always a pain whenever you’re yelled at or whistled at but it’s our job to keep you safe and we have to follow the rules. It’s about safety and it’s a much more fun day here than up the hill at Marietta Memorial.”

Rules include family-appropriate swim gear and supervision of all children under 16 years old.

“We still want supervision, we don’t just want them dropped off by parents and left,” explained Finley.

The gate opens at noon Saturday, with raffle prizes and a disc jockey planned to kick off the holiday weekend.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.