By Satina Tolman
For The New Era
The Sweet Home Community Pool is diving into summer with its first-ever “Sweet Home Community Pool Block Party” on Friday, June 13, from 1 to 5 p.m.
The event, held at the city’s only community pool, located at Sweet Home High School, celebrates the end of the school year and gives families a chance to cool off, have fun and learn more about the pool’s summer offerings.
Admission is just $1 per person and includes a hot dog, bottled water and access to a variety of activities for all ages.
“We are trying to do a kick-off of summer party to try and let the community know what we are doing over the summer — some of our activities that we have and some of our programs,” said AJay Bronson, director of the Sweet Home Community Pool since the summer of 2018. “At the same time, letting them celebrate a little bit that school is out.”
The family-friendly event will feature inflatables in the courtyard next to the pool, including a bouncy house for younger children and an obstacle course for older kids. There will also be yard games, open swim time and a tie-dye station where lifeguards will help guests decorate drawstring backpacks, scrunchies and hats.
Guests will also be able to learn more about the pool’s upcoming swim lessons and a new Junior Lifeguarding program, which introduces youth in sixth grade and above to water safety skills and the basics of becoming a lifeguard.
Swim lessons begin Monday, June 16, and run for 10 weeks. Each session includes eight lessons over a two-week period, Monday through Thursday. Group lessons are available for $50, with a 3-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio, and private lessons cost $75. Registration is available in person or by phone.
In addition to teaching swim strokes, lessons also improve water competency—skills like floating and self-rescue—which further reduce risk. A 2009 case-control study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, which found that children ages 1 to 4 who had formal swim instruction were 88% less likely to drown in lakes, rivers, or pools. The study reported an adjusted odds ratio of 0.12 (95% CI: 0.01–0.97).
The Sweet Home Swim Club, a longtime patron of the pool, will also be on-site with information about its swim team and programs.
Bronson said organizers hope for a strong turnout and that the block party becomes a beloved annual tradition for local families.
“It’s a way to bring everyone together, have fun, and get ready for a great summer,” he said.
Community members are encouraged to bring their children, beat the heat, and help make a splash as Sweet Home kicks off the summer season.
“We are just excited to offer something new to the community and trying to encourage them to use the pool for all of their summer fun needs and water safety issues,” Bronson added.