By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – As the heat of summer continues to creep higher and higher, parish officials in both St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes have opened the gates this week to public swimming pools, giving residents another 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 place to cool off and enjoy a bit of outdoor recreation. Both pools opened for residents Monday, said parish spokesperson Paige Braud.

St. John Parks and Recreation Director Terrance Jones said the pools are open to all residents from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday though Thursday. He said Friday through Sunday hours are from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jones added that participants in the parish’s summer camp program will swim Tuesday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to about 2:45 p.m. at the Regala Park pool. Both pools are closed Monday for maintenance.

Braud said the parish has six Red Cross certified lifeguards on staff. She said each pool has three guards on duty throughout the duration of the pool hours. Admission to the pools is $1 per day.

Jones said nothing has changed in how the pools have been operated in the past, but added that the Department of Parks and Recreation is looking to eventually bring some organized programs for residents of all ages. He said the department has used some of its operational funds to make minor repairs to the pool surroundings while also bringing the pools up to compliance with the American Disability Act.

“The pools now have main drain covers, and we are working to acquire portable acquatic lifts to assist disabled residents in getting into the pools,” Jones said. “The lifts have been purchased but are on back order. The requirements were just recently made mandatory for public pools.”

Jones said he hopes to use additional funds down the line for renovations to the Regala Park pool’s changing room and restroom. He said the facilities had been repaired after damage from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

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

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. She said admission to the pool is 50 cents.