POOLS STILL POPULAR: CITY GEARS UP FOR SWIMMING SEASON

With the coming of warm, sunny days and temperatures in the 60s, Cape Girardeau residents already have retrieved their shorts and T-shirts from winter storage.

Swimming suits can't be far behind.

So, from his office behind Central High School, Cape Girardeau parks and recreation aquatic coordinator Doug Gannon is planning to transition the city's two municipal pools into the busy summer season.

That means cleaning out leaves and debris and painting 360,000-gallon Capaha Pool.

While some Missouri towns, including Marshall, face swimming pool closures due to falling attendance, swimmers flock to the 500,000-gallon Central Municipal Pool -- which can be enclosed in a "bubble" and used year-around -- and Capaha Pool at a steady pace. The variations in annual attendance usually are due to weather, said Gannon.

"Summertime pools are completely weather-dependent," he said.

He points to Memorial Day weekend in 1998. Highs were in the mid-80s, and 2,777 people visited the pool. The highs were below 80 degrees on Memorial Day weekend 1999, and only 406 devoted swimmers showed up.

Dan Muser, director of parks and recreation, agreed with the weather theory.

"You can tell when you have the really hot summers and the cooler summers by the numbers," said Muser. "But attendance has been pretty stable at both facilities."

The healthy attendance at both pools caused city leaders to examine building a water park. Jay Knudtson, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, said the "family aquatic center," which possibly could be built at Osage Park, is still in its "exploratory stage".

However, Knudtson said, "It's probably our number one priority in the near future."

City bonds would likely have to be issued to raise the estimated $4.5 million needed for the complex, which would feature three lap pools, water slides, a water playground, a "lazy river," a concession stand and a bathhouse, said Knudtson.

In the meantime, Capaha Pool in Capaha Park will open May 26, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Hours will be 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Central's pool is open to the public Monday through Friday, 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $2 for those 14 and older and $1.50 for children under 14.

Central pool will close for a week so the bubble can be deflated, turning it into an outdoor facility for the summer season, said Gannon. It will reopen on June 4 and operate seven days a week, 1 to 8 p.m.

In addition to the pools, the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department oversees local athletic fields and courts, the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course, the Cape LaCroix Trail and 26 parks totaling 662.5 acres.