Piney Branch Pool Holding Open House April 18

The Piney Branch Public Pool is holding an open house on April 18 as part of an effort to become a “local partner” of a national organization that is promoting swimming safety among minority youth.

Holding the open house is a requirement of “Make A Splash,” which is a child-focused water safety initiative of the USA Swimming Foundation, said Claude Thompson, manager of the Piney Branch Public Pool, which is located at 7510 Maple Ave. “This is our first open house,” said Thompson, who added it’s called “Community Day.”

Make A Splash has the support of Cullen Jones, who won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing for the 4×100 meter freestyle relay in a world record time of 3:08.24 with Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak and Garrett Weber-Gale.

Because African-American children drown at a rate almost three times higher than Caucasian children in similar age groups, Jones is working to raise awareness on the issue and promoting efforts to teach those youths how to swim. Jones is scheduled to tour six American cities during 2011.

Hopefully, officials from “Make a Splash will come and participate in our Community Day,” Thompson said. The Piney Branch Public Pool—which is operated by Adventist Community Services—is in the process of applying to join Make a Splash, which requires member pools to hold community events like the open house. While the pool is not yet a member, it was “decided to get ahead of the game” by holding the event, he said.

Hopefully, officials from “Make a Splash will come and participate in our Community Day,” Thompson said. The Piney Branch Public Pool—which is operated by Adventist Community Services—is in the process of applying to join Make a Splash, which requires member pools to hold community events like the open house. While the pool is not yet a member, it was “decided to get ahead of the game” by holding the event, he said.

Attendees do not have to pre-register for any of the events, according to Thompson. Walk-ins are fine, but “there are time slots for different events,” he said.

The open house activities begin on April 18 at 4 p.m. on with open swimming, which runs until 9 p.m., however there is no lap swimming between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Demonstrations also start at 4 p.m. with swimming lessons and a pool safety demonstration by Boy Scout Troop 33. There is also a kayaking demonstration from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. by the Canoe Cruisers Association (CCA), water aerobics are scheduled from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

The CCA is a kayak and canoe club whose main purpose is to unite persons interested in paddling the Potomac River Basin and adjacent watersheds, according to the organization. The CCA promotes:

Kayaking and Canoeing Skills and Safety Instruction

River and Lakes Conservation

Canoe and Kayak Competitive Racing

All the activities are free, said Thompson, who urges everyone to “show up at the open house with your bathing suit and towel, and be ready to have some fun.”