Making a splash!

Is it truly summer without a pool to cool off in?

Well, thankfully for local youth and area residents, the pool is now open.

On Saturday, June 22, the New Rockford community pool opened its doors, just in time for the high heat endured last week and for the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

Macey Wobbema, the Park District's new director, had to overcome a big learning curve and several technical issues to get the pool ready for summer, and after almost round-the-clock efforts by herself and others, local residents are finally getting a chance to cool off.

"I am so unbelievably grateful for all the people that took the time to come help me!" said Wobbema. "I am so relieved that we got it running! It was incredibly frustrating to have things going right just to come back the next day to something else not working. I am so excited to finally have it open for the kids."

Open swim is available at the pool from 12:30 to 4:45 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, with a lap swim in between from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.

The afternoon open swim and evening lap swim will still be available at the same time on Fridays, but there will not be an evening open swim. On Saturdays and Sundays there will be an extended open swim from 12:30 to 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, the park district is saying farewell to long-time board member Kristi Swenson, who will be opening her final board meeting on Tuesday, July 2, after two decades serving the New Rockford Park District.

First elected to the board in 2004, Swenson has played a pivotal role in maintaining and improving New Rockford's parks and recreational activities ever since.

She has served as the board's president for several years, and was part of the group that brought the new community swimming pool to town back in 2016. In fact, there's not much she hasn't been a part of when it comes to recreation in New Rockford.

While watching the local baseball team compete in this year's state tournament, Swenson said she gained a little perspective on just how much she's been involved.

"This is something that I realized during the state baseball tournament, some of those seniors I have watched play from their t-ball years all the way to their senior high school years," said Swenson, "and it's just been fun to watch."

Over the years, Swenson said she has especially enjoyed working with the children and being a part of new, creative events to keep local youth and the whole community active and enjoying the outdoors.

"I like working with the kids," she said. "It's nice to see new programs and events be implemented. ... Whatever we can do to make positive impacts for the kids and our community, I mean that is important. And I feel like the park district does give that positive experience for the community."

Though she's leaving the park district after 20 years, Swenson said capable hands are taking over and that she's optimistic about the future.

"I feel very confident that Macey Wobbema will take the New Rockford park system to a new level," said Swenson. "She has lots of ideas and I hope that she gets the support she needs."

"Thank you to everybody who has supported the park, whether it was fundraising for the pool, helping with the homecoming meal, just anything and everything," she added. "The community has been a great supporter of the park, and it's been my pleasure to serve the community of New Rockford."

Wobbema said Swenson's presence on the board will certainly be missed.

"We are definitely sad that Kristi is leaving us, but she has done such good work in the time that she has been here," said Wobbema.

"She has been here through the new pool project, and so many other big things. Kristi has been nothing short of amazing, even just in the few months that I have worked here. Thank you so much, Kristi, for the many, many years you have been a part of the board. You have done such an amazing job!"