Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The pre-season for the public pool kicks off May 25.
Like to beat the heat with a dip in the pool? If so, your time is coming soon. The Land O’ Lakes Pool is opening to the public for use this summer on May 25. From May 25 to June 2, the facility at 3032 Collier Parkway will be open Saturdays and Sundays only. From June 5 through Aug. 18, it will be open Tuesdays through Sundays. Pasco County had previously considered shutting down the Land O’ Lakes pool for the 2012 season when faced with budget shortfalls. But the Lightning swim team hashed out a plan with the county to keep it running. Outside the summer months, the swim team uses the pool and pays the costs for keeping it running. The cost Prices have gone up since last year. Here are the 2013 rates: "We will be holding special events …
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The season that almost wasn’t kicks off next month.
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 considered closing 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 a deal was eventually struck 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” …
Monday, November 14, 2011
A heated pool makes practice possible during the colder months.
Youthful swimmers hoping to keep their skills high during the colder months have a place to turn. The Land O’ Lakes Lightning is hosting open registration for new team members starting today, Nov. 14. The new session officially kicks off Nov. 28, said Brett Ewald, president of the swim team. The cost to participate in the 12-week session is $250. New team members also need to pay a $58 insurance fee, which is good until the end of 2012. Practice takes place Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Elite team membership for advanced swimmers is $275. These swimmers meet for practice Monday through Friday. While the team’s fate was in question earlier this year when Pasco County considered closing the Land O’ Lakes pool, the Lightning …
28.19954
-82.43397
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pky, Land O Lakes, FL
/articles/winter-swim-season-registration-begins-today
1779225
/locations/5801584
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The Pasco County board is expected to approve the agreement today with the Land O’ Lakes Lightning.
If all goes well at today’s special Pasco County Commission meeting, the Land O’ Lakes Lightning Swim Team will take over most of the responsibility for running the recreation complex’s pool. The final agreement between the county and the swim team is on the board’s consent agenda. In most cases, consent agenda items are approved by the board. “It basically includes everything we wanted it to include,” said Brett Ewald, president of the Lightning. “I think everybody got what they wanted.” Commissioner Pat Mulieri calls the agreement a win. "In these difficult economic times, it is important to form partnerships with the private sector," she said. "Public-private partnerships are the future. I appreciate that the Lightning has stepped up to…
28.19954
-82.43397
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pky, Land O Lakes, FL
/articles/commission-to-make-final-decision-on-land-o-lakes-pool
1779225
/locations/5457429
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex pool will be open to the public through Monday, Sept. 5.
Labor Day is the official end of the summer vacation season. It’s also the end of the public swim season at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex's pool. While no special events are planned this weekend, A. Jay Larsen, the pool’s aquatics supervisor, said it’s a great time to come out. This is especially so since the pool, which is normally closed on Mondays, will be opened for a last hurrah on Sept. 5. “It’s the last weekend for the summer … it’s the end of the year,” Larsen said, adding that regular weekend hours will apply Sept. 3-4. The pool will be open those days from 11 a.m. to noon for adults, 18 and up only. Open swim for all ages is from noon until 7 p.m., weather permitting. On Monday, the pool will be open for everyone from 11 a…
28.19954
-82.43397
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pky, Land O Lakes, FL
/articles/labor-day-is-the-last-splash-of-the-season-at-pool
1779225
/locations/5259692
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The fall session starts Monday, Aug. 29.
Fresh off two major victories — one at a championship and another with the county — the Land O’ Lakes Lightning Swim Team is ready to get back into action. The fall swim season officially kicks off Monday, Aug. 29, and signups for the season are ongoing and continue throughout the fall, said Brett Ewald, the nonprofit organization’s president. The first round of swimmer evaluations is set for tonight, Aug. 25 at 6:15 p.m. Earlier this summer, Lightning members weren’t sure if they’d have a pool to swim in. Facing more than $400,000 in budget cuts, the Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department floated the idea of closing the Land O' Lakes pool. The Lightning’s board of directors stepped forward with a plan to take most of the financial …
28.19954
-82.43397
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pky, Land O Lakes, FL
/articles/lightning-swimmers-are-diving-into-new-season
1779225
/locations/5186009
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Commissioners support a deal to defray costs for the Land O' Lakes pool and give supporters a year to find community backing for the Hudson public pool.
County commissioners agreed to a proposed deal that will keep the public pool in Land O’ Lakes running and gave supporters of the pool in Hudson a year to find money to keep that facility operating. The deal between the Land O’ Lakes Lightning Swim Team and the county calls for the nonprofit organization to pay most of the pool’s costs including operations and minor maintenance. The team would cover about $100,000 of the pool costs, leaving the county to pick up about $41,000, some of which will be covered by about $10,000 in user fees. Commissioners on Tuesday also agreed to increased charges at both pools to help increase revenue. Fees for children would go from $2 to $3 and adults from $3 to $4. Adult season passes would cost $60, an …
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Pasco County staff is looking for direction from the elected body.
The plan to save the Land O’ Lakes pool from closing is expected to get an initial, nonbinding, thumbs up or down from the Pasco County Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 23. “There’s a draft of the agreement with the Lightning — it’s not the final agreement,” said Rick Buckman, the parks department director. “I think what we (the county) want (is) to get the board to decide whether they want to fund these issues or not — give direction on whether to do the agreement or not.” The Land O’ Lakes Lightning Swim Team has been working with parks department officials to draft a proposal to take over some of the management and financial burdens of operating the Land O’ Lakes pool. The nonprofit swim team stepped forward earlier this summer when it was …
28.267944
-82.670597
8731 Citizen Dr, New Port Richey, FL
/articles/county-staff-will-float-pool-proposal-before-commission-today
/locations/5162412
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Team members swam their way to a victory in the 2011 Tampa Summer League Championships.
They came. They swam. They crushed the competition. With a lead of more than 200 points over the runner up, it’s hard to describe the outcome of the 2011 Tampa Summer League Champions any other way. The Land O' Lakes Lightning Swim Team headed to the University of Tampa on Aug. 13 with 56 swimmers, ages 5 to 18, in tow. Members competed against eight other teams, including Tampa Bay Aquatics, the Berkeley Barracudas and the Greater Tampa Swimming Association. The thought going in was they might take the runner up position, said Coach Robin Hilgenberg. The kids, however, had winning on their minds. With Pasco County talking about closing the Land O’ Lakes pool because of budget cuts, the young swimmers felt like they had to bring a victory …
28.19954
-82.43397
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pky, Land O Lakes, FL
/articles/lightning-swim-team-brings-trophy-home-to-land-o-lakes
1779225
/locations/5109881
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Commissioners like the partnership with the Lightning swim team and would like to see a deal for the public pool in Hudson.
An idea to keep the public pool open in Land O’ Lakes got a positive reception Tuesday from county commissioners, who wish a similar arrangement could be reached for the facility in Hudson. Facing another tight budget year, there is no money in the spending plan for pools at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex and Veteran’s Memorial Park. Pasco County commissioners were presented at their Tuesday meeting with the outline of a way to keep the Land O’ Lakes pool open as well as a petition with more than 1,100 signatures from residents urging the pools stay open. The plan put together by the Land O’ Lakes Lightning Swim Team and the Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department would reduce the county’s cost of running the pool It would still…
28.19954
-82.43397
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pky, Land O Lakes, FL
/articles/commissioners-receptive-to-plan-keeping-land-o-lake-pool-open
1779225
/locations/5091858
Keli Sipperley
10:52 am on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Are you and the kids excited for the summer swim season yet? more ›