Area pools, parks prepare for the upcoming swim season

Local pools and Beltzville State Park are excited for the busy upcoming swim season, with many opening this weekend.

Here is some information about the area’s pools and parks to help keep you cool this summer.

Beltzville State Park

Beltzville State Park will open its swimming area to the public on Memorial Day weekend depending if the water passes water test regulations. Water tests will be conducted weekly, which will determine if the swimming area will remain open.

Visitors may visit the sand beach from this upcoming weekend through mid-September.

Swimming hours will be 8 a.m. to sunset. A food and refreshment concession stand will be available, weather permitting. Kayaks and paddle boats will be available for rent. Smoking is prohibited on beach grounds and swimming area. Designated smoking areas are located off the sand.

Lehighton

Baer Memorial Pool will open Saturday. The new pool hours are noon-7 p.m. daily. The pool area includes waterslides, food court and pavilions available for rental.

Water aerobics and aquatic Zumba classes will be offered during the season.

Seasonal memberships are available for Carbon County residents only. Membership costs vary. Daily passes for Carbon County residents are $7 for adults and $5 for children. Out of Carbon County residents may purchase daily pool passes for $15 for adults and $10 for children.

Northern Lehigh

The Northern Lehigh Swimming Pool will kick off its season Memorial Day weekend starting Saturday from noon-8 p.m. The pool will only be open on weekends until June 13, and then it will be open daily from noon-8 p.m.

The pool has three lifeguards on duty, a concession stand and multiple picnic tables.

The pool is currently running a discount for students to purchase a pool pass for $60 until June 1. After that date, a student pass will be $90. Other pool passes vary on family size and start at $160.

This is the first year memberships can be purchased online using a credit card. Receipt and pool pass application should be handed in at the pool. The pool will offer swim lessons and night swims at an additional cost.

More information can be found at www.nlpool.com.

Palmerton

The Palmerton Memorial Pool will open on Saturday at 1 p.m. weather permitting. Pool hours vary. It will open at 3:30 p.m. on the weekdays while Palmerton school district is still in session. Then the hours will be from noon-8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; and 1-8 p.m. Sunday.

Membership applications can be found online at www.palmertonpool.com.

Child swim lessons will be available with an additional $10 cost along with the seasonal membership. The pool is currently hiring lifeguards and workers in the office and refreshment stand.

Tamaqua

The H.D. Buehler Memorial Pool known as the Bungalow will open on June 8.

The pool’s services include a pavilion, a small children’s playground and concession stand.

This year, the Tamaqua borough hired 36 lifeguards and seven clerks. The Bungalow has handicapped ADA-compliant lift and stairs to enter into the pool, which was installed last year.

Applications for pool passes are available at the Tamaqua Municipal Building or the borough’s website at www.tamaquaborough.com. The cost of a pool pass is $10 for Tamaqua residents and $100 for residents outside of Tamaqua.

The pool will be open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.