The Fieldale Heritage Festival Committee is seeking volunteers to help keep the community pool running during the 2024 summer season.
A pre-opening workday is set for Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with hotdogs served from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Food and drinks are being donated by Food Lion in Stanleytown, with condiments donated by Fieldale Cafe, and ice buckets by Fort Trial Baptist Church.
May 11 is the rain date, with work sessions needed to get the pool ready to open for the season on May 25.
An estimated 10,000 people visit the Fieldale Pool each summer. Opening and maintaining the pool costs $10,000 to $11,000 each year.
“We are the only public pool around,” said Michael Jarrett, who is helping with the project. “I met people at the pool last year from Rocky Mount, Axton, and locals, of course. Maybe even a couple from North Carolina coming to the pool. The Fieldale Pool has been open consistently, and they’ve done well.”
Lifeguards are needed so the pool can stay open. “Typically, we carry eight or nine, just so we can rotate through because we have to have three to keep the pools guarded,” said Andrew Kahle. The pay for lifeguards is above minimum wage.
The pool will work with families with a limited budget. Low-income families can contact the recreation center for reduced rates.
“We are a non-profit, and our goal is to help serve,” said Kahle. “We don’t want to price ourselves out of the pools being available.”
The membership rates are calculated by the number of people that will be visiting the pool. Memberships can include non-household members, with costs that start at $200 for a single person; day passes are $8 Mondays through Saturday, and $4 on Sundays. The pool also can be booked for birthday parties for a fee of $150.
The Fieldale Recreation Center also is being renovated, and currently is in the design phase.
“We should advertise for the construction here at any time of the next couple of months,” Kahle said, and explained the center received $1.5 million to help redo the HVAC system, pay for a new gym floor, and add additional offices.
“We also have the Fieldale School Apartments, our new neighbors,” Kahle said, and added that the auditorium is still open for events.
Kahle also hopes that concerts will return to the center.
“It’s a great fundraiser. It’s a good opportunity to bring people to Fieldale who wouldn’t normally come here,” he said. One of the restrictions to booking a single concert is insurance cost.
“It’s cheaper if you can get a concert or five concerts,” said Kahle, who hopes to get a discount by booking multiple acts. During concerts, a restricted area is used for adult beverages.
“We are a non-profit, 501-c3, we would welcome with open arms anyone who wants to be part of our committee, part of our group,” said Kahle, and both added that members also are needed for committees.
For more information, or to volunteer, call Jarrett at (757) 237-5644 or email mcjarrett4833@gmail.com.
Those interested in a lifeguard position may call (276) 201-9913 or (276) 340-7226.
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