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Pool opening a splashing success

Kim Doose

The Sopris Barracudas finally have a pool of their own.The Glenwood Springs Aquatic Center held its grand opening this past Friday and hosted a luau that brought community members and city officials together to see two decades of faith and hard work become a reality with a snip of a ribbon and an inaugural dive.Mayor Larry Emery was on hand to express his appreciation to many of the people in the community who saw the project to its completion.Its the spirit of the fund-raising, the spirit of giving the community had, Emery said.For a city of 8,000 to have a facility like this is phenomenal, he said.And while it took an exceptional team effort from Howard Jay, Mary Steinbrecher, Terri Miller and a host of others to get it built, the team who will manage the pool is in place.Aquatics coordinator Kristi Brewer said Jeff Ellis & Associates, an international lifeguard-training program that specializes in water safety, trained her team of lifeguards. We want to provide a safe and fun facility for the community, Brewer said.With the state-of-the-art facility completed, Brewer is already setting new goals.Kristi has really worked to bring this to fruition, said Leon Kuhn, director of parks and recreation for the city.Now Brewer has set her sights on whipping the community into shape by focusing on getting families to exercise together and utilizing the whole center.She hopes parents will use the Kid Care program that allows them to drop off the kids and then go to a class or squeeze in a workout. She would also like to get other demographics to participate in recreation. Brewers goal: Total Fitness! she said.While shes looking at implementing fun, new sports programs such as water polo, she also wants to make sure the community is educated on water safety.Were a model for aquatic centers on the Western Slope, she said.Barracudas and all.

From left, Patty Schaffner, of New Castle, is diving coach for GSHS and diving instructor for the City of Glenwood Springs; Toni Hecksel, of Glenwood, is a physical therapist for Columbine Home Health Care and a masters swimmer; and Mandy Betts, of Glenwood, is president of the Sopris Barracudas and a masters swimmer.

From left, Mirra Prascher, of Carbondale, is pool manager; David Herth, of New Castle, is pool manager; Kristi Brewer, of Glenwood, is the aquatics coordinator; and Damon Landreth, of Silt, is pool manager.



From left, Savanna Cochran, of Glenwood, 14, attends Glenwood Springs Middle School; Donni Cochran, of Glenwood, is chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Commission; Leon Kuhn, of New Castle, is director of Parks and Recreation for the city; and Michael Cain, of Garfield County, is maintenance supervisor at the Glenwood Springs Community Center.

GSHS Demons diving and swim team, from left, Cori Barnes, 16, of Glenwood, a sophomore; coach Theresa Mattingly, of Basalt; Jessica Betts, 14, a freshman at GSHS; and Sierra Grove, 13, of New Castle, an eighth-grader at Riverside Middle School.



These Glenwood Springs Elementary School students were among the first to enjoy the pool on Friday night. From left, Carrie Waters, 8, is in third grade; Chelsea Patton, 10, is in fifth grade; and Savannah Butcher, 8, is in third grade.

From left, city councilman Dan Richardson, of Glenwood, owns SDC Inc., an architectural firm; Mary Noone, of Glenwood, is an artist; and city councilman Dave Merritt, of Glenwood, is chief engineer of the Colorado River District.

From left, Martha Moore, of Glenwood, works for the Colorado River Water Conservation District; Dick Eide, of Glenwood, is superintendent at Aspen Glen; and Nancy Eide, of Glenwood, is a volunteer.

GSES fifth-grade students, from left, Conner Kilpatrick, Connor McRaith and Jimmy Butcher, all of whom are 10 years old and live in Glenwood.


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