Public Swim Returns to the Land O’ Lakes Pool

Swimmers anxious to dive into summer fun don’t have too much longer to wait.

The Land O’ Lakes Pool officially opens its doors to residents on May 26 for the 2012 swim season.

The 2012 season almost didn’t happen. Late last summer, Pasco County both the Land O’ Lakes and Hudson pools to save money in its ever-shrinking budget. A grassroots effort by members of the nonprofit Land O’ Lakes Lightning Swim Team gained momentum and to keep the pools open.

The Lightning are now responsible for much of the costs of keeping the pool open. The county, however, still plays host to the summer swimming program for all residents.

The Schedule

The Land O’ Lakes facility will operate on a “pre-season” schedule May 26 through June 3 with only weekend openings in the mix, according to a county document. During this short session, the pool will be open from 11 a.m. to noon for adults-only swims on Saturdays and Sundays. All swim runs from noon to 6 p.m.

Starting June 6, the pool opens for its regular season with swimming offered Tuesdays through Saturdays. The hours for the regular season are as follows:

• Adults Only – 11 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays through Sundays.
• All Swim – Noon to 6 p.m.

While the pool is closed on Mondays for cleaning and maintenance, Pasco County has factored a few holiday Monday swims into the mix. The pool will be open Monday, July 2, for an open swim session from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will also open Sept. 3 for everyone from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What’s it Going to Cost?

Pasco County has also released its pool fees schedule for the 2012 season:

• Daily admission – The cost is $2 for children 2 to 17 and $3 for adults.
• Season pass – For children 2 to 17, the cost is $50 for the season. Adults can get a pass for $70 for the season.
• Family – A family pass for four people costs $100 with $20 for each additional family member.

Discount cards are also available to cover the cost of 10 admissions. The price for these is $15 for children and $25 for adults.

For more information, call 813-929-1220 or stop by the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway.

The Lightning is handling swim lessons this year at the pool. To find out more, visit the team’s website.

What would you have missed about the pool had it closed?