What It
Is: Parkwood Swim
Club is an outdoor swimming pool that is not-for-profit and open to members and
their guests from Memorial to Labor Day.
There are various depths of the main pool from 3-9 feet plus a fenced
baby pool. The 9-foot section has diving
boards and there is a covered picnic area and plenty of chairs for
lounging. One lane is roped and can be
used for lap swimming if desired.
The pool is
very conveniently located for us in S. Durham (Parkwood neighborhood) on Clermont
Rd past the elementary school. In fact,
the road dead-ends into the pool parking lot.
This pool is never at capacity, yet we always see friends while there. We love that the children usually have
someone their age to play with, yet it’s not so busy that as parents we have to
hover to see them. The lifeguards are
very attentive and the rules of swimming and diving are clearly visible. And let’s face it, with so many hot days the
water has been perfect! In the evening,
most of the pool is in the shade so it is a very refreshing end to the
day. I even sneak in a 10-minute lap
swim during breaks to attain my required daily physical activity.
What They
Offer: For
$325/season, the pool has open swimming from 11am until evening (the time
depends on the day) with the baby pool and swimming lessons beginning at
10am. Parkwood also has a championship
swim team that both members and non-members can join. The Piranhas have quite a reputation in the
Durham Summer Swim League (DSSL). The
Parkwood Piranha coaches teach great sportsmanship and teamwork in addition to
honing swimming skills. (Pool members
receive a discounted rate for swim team by the way, so the affordability factor
is increased again). The pool also has a
big July 4th celebration with an inflatable slide and lots of
contests and food. My kiddos really got
into the contests this year, including a good showing in the “family relay”
race. Granted, E had his flippers on but
hey, he’s 5.
What We
Liked: Since this is
just a swimming pool, the cost is very reasonable. I know I wouldn’t use a fitness club or
tennis courts as much, so this is perfect for us. The guards regularly speak with the children
when not on duty, which I really appreciate.
I don’t want my children to fear the lifeguards (because sometimes they
must reprimand them gently for breaking a rule but it’s not the end of the
world). My son’s most common offense
is running. I must say it 10 times a day
when we’re at the pool – no one else has this problem, right?!. Second, there are pool noodles and baby pool
toys that belong to the pool. Very
convenient! And there is a snack bar
with drinks and snacks and my kiddos’ favorite – ice pops. For twenty-five cents, they’re a great reward
for a new skill learned or praise for good behavior. My kids seem to be on their best behavior at
the pool, even *gasp* playing TOGETHER!
That is priceless.
What We
Would Change: In
May/June, the sun can be unbearable so a few more shade structures would be
lovely. And if I’m dreaming, steps or a
shelf in the 3-foot section would help moms with tots get in more easily. But for the most part, this pool fits our
needs exactly and is a great way to cool off and enjoy the summer outdoors in
NC. We’ve been to plenty of pools and we
keep coming back to Parkwood. It has a
winning combination of great members and a sense of community that is hard to
find.
Website
and other important information:
http://parkwoodpiranhas.shutterfly.com/
- swim team
Address: 1615
Clermont Rd, Durham NC 27713
Prices:
August/September memberships for 2012: $175!!
Guests of
members: $5/person (each family receives 5 free guests each season)
Full season
(early bird discount): $325 plus one-time $75 fee
Photos:
(The pool)
(baby pool)
(life guards having fun during a break)
(pool structure that you see when you're walking up)
(Walking from the pool to the parking lot)
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