Cool down at the pool without busting budget
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
7. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Though we’d all love to sit by the water and relax all summer, many of us have neither the time nor the budget to invest in joining a swim club. Luckily there are many public pools and beach access on lakes with affordable entry fees.
If you’re planning on visiting the pool multiple days each week throughout the summer, especially if multiple family members will be included, it’s best to pay for a season pass or join a neighborhood swim club to get the most out of your money.
For those just looking for a few days at the water here and there, public pools and beaches are a great option.
Entry to the public spaces ranges from free for very young children to $9 for adults. Some locations have attractions beyond the basic pool.
The Frog Pond in Christiansburg has a children’s pool with five slides and a water spouting whale. Splash Valley at Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke is a water park with two slides, a current river and a large aquatic play area for children. Evelyn Alexander Water Park in Pulaski has similar offerings. There’s a large water slide, smaller slides for young children, spray toys and water basketball. Each of these locations also has basic pool space and lounge chairs for the adults to enjoy.
At the Claytor Lake State Park public beach, visitors have access to a gift shop, and both the Claytor Lake and Smith Mountain Lake beaches offer concessions for purchase, or you can bring a cooler full of snacks and drinks. These beach locations have the same affordable prices as public pools, but you do have to pay a parking fee for each visit.
Other public pools, like those located in Vinton, Fallon Park and Washington Park, offer affordable swim lessons and the cheapest daily visits. The Vinton pool even offers free dinner on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. during “Twilight Swim,” which is only $1 per person or free for children 4 and under.
Here are the basic details for each pool, water park and beach that allow daily public access in our region. Prices for seniors are for those ages 55 and up unless otherwise noted. Be sure to call about hours and weather information before you go:
Evelyn Alexander Water Park
5100 Alexander Road, Dublin
Cost: On weekdays, infants are free, seniors and children under age 2 are $2, visitors ages 2 to 54 are $4. On weekends, all fees are the same, except visitors ages 2 to 54 are $5.
Contact: www.randolphpark.org/waterpk.htm; 674-1513
Splash Valley at Green Ridge Recreation Center
7415 Wood Haven Road, Roanoke
Cost: County residents are $5 for seniors, $6 for ages 1 to 17 and $7 for ages 18 to 54. Non-residents are $7 for seniors, $8 for ages 1 to 17 and $9 for ages 18 to 54. Prices are reduced $1 for seniors and children and $2 for adults after 4 p.m.
Contact: www.roanokecountyva.gov; 777-6300
The Frog Pond
390 Cinnabar Drive, Christiansburg
Cost: Children 1 and under, free; seniors, $2; children ages 2 to 4, $3; visitors ages 5 to 54, $5
Contact: www.montgomerycountyva.gov; 382-6981
Vinton Municipal Pool
330 Meadow St., Vinton
Cost: Children 4 and under, free; seniors and youth 5 to 15, $3; visitors 16 and older, $4. Twilight Swim is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and costs $1 for everyone except children 4 and under, who are free.
Contact: www.vintonva.gov; 983-0644
Fallon Park Pool
Dale Avenue, Roanoke Washington Park Pool
Burrell Street, Roanoke
Cost: Children up to age 4, free; children ages 5 to 15, $2; visitors 16 and older, $3
Contact: www.roanokeva.gov; 853-2000
Blacksburg Aquatic Center
625 Patrick Henry Drive, Blacksburg
Cost: Children under 3, free; children ages 3 to 14 and seniors, $3; visitors 15 to 64, $3.50. Prices decrease 50 cents after 7 p.m.
Contact: www.blacksburg.va.us; 961-1852
Christiansburg Aquatic Center
595 N. Franklin St., Christiansburg
Cost: Children under 2, free; children ages 2 to 11, $2; youth ages 12 to 17 and seniors, $3; adults, $5
Contact: www.christiansburg.org; 381- 7665
Claytor Lake State Park Beach
6620 Ben H. Bolen Drive, Dublin
Cost: On weekdays, children under age 3 are free, children ages 3 to 12 are $2 and visitors 13 and older are $3. On weekends, children under age 3 are free, children ages 3 to 12 are $3 and visitors 13 and older are $4. Parking is $3.
Contact: www.dcr.virginia.gov; 643-2500
Smith Mountain Lake State Park Beach
1235 State Park Road, Huddleston
Cost: On weekdays, children under age 3 are free, children ages 3 to 12 are $2 and visitors 13 and older are $3. On weekends, children under age 3 are free, children ages 3 to 12 are $3 and visitors 13 and older are $4. Parking is $3.
Contact: www.dcr.virginia.gov; 297-6066
Know of any other affordable public swimming holes or summer activities? Share them on the blog at blogs.roanoke.com/shoptimist.
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
7. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
THE ROANOKE TIMES
