WHEELING – Memorial Day weekend has arrived, and the public swimming pools in Wheeling are either open or getting ready to dive into the season in the coming days.

While the soggy weather may put a damper on outdoor activities, the rain will not last forever, and warmer temperatures have been steadily appearing in the Ohio Valley.

As for the public swimming pools, the Wheeling Park Commission’s two venues – at Oglebay and at Wheeling Park – are both now open. The four public pools operated by the City of Wheeling – the 36th Street Pool in South Wheeling, Garden Park Pool in Warwood, Bridge Park Pool on Wheeling Island, and Grandview/Wheeling Heights Pool are slated to open next weekend.

“We’re excited to welcome guests back for another summer pool season at Oglebay and Wheeling Park,” said Bob Peckenpaugh, president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission. “We look forward to another exciting summer filled with family fun, community and memorable experiences at both parks.”

Wheeling Park’s Olympic-sized pool opened on May 16. The pool complex features recent renovations such as the new splash pad that opened last year. The facility also boasts the popular waterslide, diving boards, concessions and plenty of space for families to relax. The pool is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the waterslide opening daily at noon.

At Oglebay Park Resort, guests can enjoy the Crispin Center outdoor pool featuring an Olympic-sized pool, the Fountains of Fun splash pad, concessions and poolside relaxation for guests of all ages surrounded by the natural beauty of the park. The outdoor pool at Oglebay is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Season pool passes are available and include admission to outdoor swimming pools at both Oglebay and Wheeling Park. For more information about pool amenities, hours and season passes, visit oglebay.com.

The City of Wheeling is also ready to kick off the summer season at its neighborhood pools, according to Wheeling Parks and Recreation Director Rochelle Barry.

“All pools will open Saturday, June 6, at noon,” Barry said. “They’re open from noon to 6 p.m.”

Barry noted that the city is still in need of additional lifeguards. All lifeguards at the city pools are trained and certified through the American Red Cross, she noted, and until additional guards come on staff, the city pools will have to be closed on certain days of the week.

“We are still hiring, and hopefully we can get the pools to open up on more days and that this initial schedule will change,” Barry said, urging the public to stay tuned to the city’s website and look for the latest on hours of operations and other information from the Wheeling Parks & Recreation Department on the Facebook page.

For now, the Wheeling Island pool will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Grandview Pool will be closed Tuesdays and Thursday. The South Wheeling pool will be closed on Wednesday only, and the Warwood pool will be closed on Thursdays only.

Last year, the city experienced a similar issue with a shortage of lifeguards, and three out of the four city pools had to be closed on one weekday per week. Barry noted that some lifeguards are able to rotate to the different locations to cover shifts, but they also need days off.

“Lifeguards and concession stand workers, we’re still hiring for, but we need lifeguards more than anything,” she said, noting that anyone interested in a summer job at the city pools can apply on the City of Wheeling website.

Otherwise, each of the city pools will be ready for action at least five or six days a week and on every weekend beginning next Saturday.

“Come out and enjoy it,” Barry said. “Even if it isn’t the greatest weather, it’s a chance to get outside and enjoy the community.”