By Joy Dartez | OBSERVER Staff Writer
Kids and their families have been jumping into the Pannell Meadowview Community Center Pool to escape Sacramento’s scorching summer, which has included several days of more than 100 degrees.
Children and their parents found comfort in the pool as temperatures hit the upper 90s and even triple digits earlier this summer. Residents and visitors of all ages may splash, swim, and escape from the severe summer weather at this family-friendly, exciting, and safe complex set in the heart of South Sacramento.
The main pool, splash zones, covered picnic areas, and zero-entry area for kids under the age of 12 are all created to give guests both entertainment and relaxation.
The pool is in an easily accessible area where adults and their children can cool off and escape the typically scorching summer, though this week has provided unusually cool temperatures. The pool is available open 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, and 1-6 p.m. Friday-Sundays. With manageable entry fees of just $5 for adults and $3 for youth ages 2-17, the pool offers joy and entertainment for all ages to enjoy time together in a family-friendly environment.
The attendance boost this summer thanks to rising temperatures has encouraged pool employees to redouble their efforts in keeping everyone operational and safe.
To maintain constant vigilance without fatigue, lifeguards work rotating shifts, with the peak heat of the day having the most coverage. Personnel constantly walk the pool area for any safety issues, replenish sunscreen and first aid stations, and maintain drink stations for guests and employees alike.
Safety is a top priority. Whether it’s children or adults in the water, trained lifeguards are constantly on duty to ensure a safe and supervised swimming environment. Along with lifeguard supervision, the pool is monitored 24/7, providing an added layer of protection and peace of mind for parents and guardians.
Close tabs are kept on capacity. Even with no established cap, attendants will briefly pause entry when the water area becomes too full to ensure each person has an enjoyable and secure experience.
Health and safety are the first and foremost objectives at the pool, especially during the busy summer season when a number of children and adults use the facility each day. Strict maintenance and cleaning protocols are performed by lifeguards and staff to ensure that the swimming pool and deck area remain secure, sanitary, and inviting to all visitors.
In addition to going swimming, Pannell offers lap swimming, water aerobics, and swim lessons.
Pannell is not the only space in South Sacramento where families can cool off. McClatchy Park Pool, located in the Oak Park neighborhood, serves as a social hub for Black families in a historically diverse area. It offers recreation swim 1-5 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays, and 1-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays throughout the summer.
Located in the Southside neighborhood, the Southside Park Pool just reopened after years of extensive renovations. Its summer schedule hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 1-5 p.m. Fridays, and 1-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. With its recent reopening, the pool supplies a vital, culturally significant meeting space for families and their children in predominantly Black and underfunded communities.