Drastic budget cuts by the City of Sacramento has prevented the Parks and Recreation Department from restoring service hours to its ten community swimming pools. Several of the pools are open only for classes or lifeguard training. For half a dozen others, public swimming hours are from 2pm to 4 pm.

That means swimmers dealing with hot summer temperatures aren’t able to use the pools during the hottest part of the day around 5pm. Some residents are frustrated because the hours of operation are not posted clearly. Emma Halaapiapi and her five kids arrived at Magnan Pool in the Fruitridge neighborhood at 11am waiting for the pool to open. The sign said it is open from 1pm to 5pm, but that was before hours were adjusted to deal with the city’s budget crisis. The Park and Recreatioh website shows that the pool is closed for public use.

“I don’t think it’s funny,” said Halaapiapi after we informed her of the pool closure. “We were looking forward to swimming, now we can’t.”

The public pools that are open host swimming classes or lifeguard training in the mornning hours and are generally open from 2pm to 4pm most days. Some have extended weekend hours.

At the beach at Discovery Park along the banks of the American and Sacramento Rivers families frolick in the water before noon on a day when temperatures will go above 100 degrees after 5pm.. Be Gee is there with his kids and friends, but he would rather be at a community pool where there is clean water and lifeguards.

“They close so early that I think a lot of people are forced to come out here,” said Gee.

While there is all day use and picnicking along the river, it can be dangerous. Firefigters who patrol the river say swimmiers are basically on their own to deal with the chilly water and fask current. The area is a frequent site of drownings even thoiugh there are loaner life vests available for swimmers.

Brandy Newson is at the beach with her infant son. She too would rather be at a communty pool where she can teach her son about tthe water. “Because the pools close so early we can’t introduce him to the water like we want to because we definitley wouldn’t put him out there,” said Newson.

The Parks and Recreation Department says it’s working with the limited funds that are available. Admission prices are cheaper than in other communities, $1 for children under 17 and $2 for adults. It chose to limit hours and shut down some pools instead of creating an economic barrier to residents..

Standing at the crowded pool at the Pannell Community Center, Department spokesman Hindolo Brima said, “Why have a community asset when people can’t afford to come here? We chose to make our pools really affordable.”

People who plan to use the city’s wading and swimming poolsare urged to check the Sacramento Park and Recreation website for the hours of operation.