The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PRESCOTT – Summer is just around the corner, and the Prescott Joint Parks & Recreation Department (PJPRD) has been working hard to make sure they are ready.

The pool has been freshly painted, new playground equipment has been installed, and pool managers have organized a discounted lifeguard certification class open to anyone wishing to lifeguard locally, whether in Prescott, Waitsburg, Dayton or Walla Walla.

Prescott pool co-manager Yvonne Jackson has organized the lifeguard training class which will run from May 15 through May 23. Classes will be held in Prescott and College Place as follows:

Sun., May 15, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Prescott Pool

Mon., May 16, 5-8 p.m. – WWU Classroom, College Place

Wed., May 18, 5-8 p.m. – WWU Classroom, College Place

Fri., May 20, 4-7 p.m. – Prescott Pool

Sun., May 22, noon – 6 p.m. – Prescott Pool (recertification from 4-6 p.m.)

Mon, May 23, Written test at Park Board office in Prescott

The class is available at a very reduced price of $135, as opposed to the $350 cost of current YMCA classes. Instruction books must also be purchased and cost approximately $45. Jackson said another benefit is that the class is held in a condensed time frame instead of the traditional five week course.

While participation in the lifeguarding class does not necessarily ensure being hired as a guard, Prescott, Waitsburg, and Dayton pools all have openings for lifeguarding positions. Jackson said Prescott hires 10 guards and she currently has five returning, with two new applicants.

Jackson says Prescott is anticipating a busy season. Saager and College Place middle schools will kick off the season before school ends with free swim days for their detention-free students. The official swim season will begin the weekend after school is out, either June 11 or 12. Walla Walla Camp Fire visits every Tuesday in June and Vista Hermosa Day Camp attends four days a week.

The pool will offer three to four sessions of two-week swim lessons and plans to continue its popular mom and tot class. Jackson said they intend to offer a water aerobics class this year if there is enough interest, and there is a possibility of starting a swim team.

The Parks and Recreation Department will continue to host summer concerts in the park, and the library will hold activities in the park throughout the summer.

The park itself is even more inviting to little ones these days with the recent installation of brand new playground equipment for children ages 5 and under. The equipment cost just under $20,000, with several thousand more for bark and installation. Jackson said the entire project was paid for with grant funds and no taxpayer dollars were used.

Grants from Winans Testamentary Trust, the Blue Community Mountain Foundation, Pacific Power and the Association of Washington Cities made the project possible.

Jackson said the PJPRD will begin working toward the purchase of playground equipment for 6-12 year olds next. "For that, we're looking at closer to $65,000, so that may take us awhile," she said.

Anyone interested in signing up for the lifeguarding course, which begins May 15, should contact Jackson at (509) 386-2345 or call the park office at (509) 849-2314 as soon as possible.