With summer nipping at our heels, swim season will soon be upon us, and the Galva Park District is already preparing to open its pool to the community.
This is the pool’s 56th year, and board members and staff are working hard to make certain everything is in place for opening day, on May 31.
Early bird pricing on family pool memberships for Galva residents is available until April 30, and up to six family members (at least two adults must be included) can join for $90. The district believes this is a significant savings that should help families enjoy the pool all summer long. Membership forms can be found on their Facebook page.
Park Board president Pete Vandevelde says that the park is in great shape and is one of the few small towns that still have a working pool.
“Maintenance is ongoing to keep up with repairs so that the facility will continue for years,” he said. “Preventing small problems from becoming big ones is always our goal.”
Vice President Larry Morse is the longest-running member of the board and has seen significant changes over the half-century of its existence.
“So much has happened to increase recreational opportunities for the community,” said Morse, noting that the group is currently seeking grants to replace the park’s lighting. “Funding the park’s programs is expensive, but we were very fortunate to have been given the Herbster property to the south of the park, and the farm’s profits help keep the need for additional taxes lower.”
In addition to the pool, the Park District offers walking trails with numerous benches. Tennis, pickleball and basketball courts draw many and the baseball fields host ball games all summer long.
Large, covered pavilions for picnics and reunions are also available by reservation. It’s also a venue for concerts, and the annual Backroads Musical Festival is held there each August and draws thousands to the area.
Katie Laurin-Hopping, Laura Nordstrom and Tyler Glaser round out the five-member board, with Doug Anderson employed as the superintendent of the grounds. The board meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Galva City Hall. For more information check the Park District’s Facebook page or call (309) 932-2070.
