By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With temperatures already reaching close to triple digits in the River Region, parish officials opened public pools this week to give residents an option for beating the heat.

Outdoor swimming pools at Regala Park, 194 Regala Park Road in Reserve, and Harold Scott Roussell Park, 137 Castle Drive in Edgard, offer residents a free place to cool off and enjoy a bit of outdoor recreation. Both pools opened for residents Tuesday, said parish spokesperson Paige Braud.

St. John Parks and Recreation Director Erroll Manuel said the pools are open to all residents from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday though Friday. He said Saturday and Sunday hours are from 1-5 p.m. Manuel also said participants in the parish’s summer camp program will swim Monday through Friday from 1-3 p.m.

Manuel said the parish has six Red Cross certified lifeguards on staff. He said three will work the east bank pool and three will work the west bank pool throughout the duration of the pool hours.

The pools are open to parish residents of all ages. Braud said there are currently no organized activities at the pools. They are just a place for residents to get some respite from the heat.

In St. James Parish, residents can get their swimming in at the Gramercy Park pool, located at 412 N. Ezidore Ave., Gramercy. St. James Spokesperson Melissa Wilkins said the pool is only open Monday through Friday from 1-5 p.m. because the parish has to work around swimming lessons, aerobic classes and swim teams who use the pool daily.

Wilkins said the parish employs five Red Cross certified lifeguards for the summer. She said the amount working on any given day depends on the number of swimmers using the pool.