MANKATO — After being out of commission for more than a year for renovation, Tourtellotte Pool in Mankato will open Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick it off.
Opening events will start in Tourtellotte Park outside the bathhouse at 12:30 p.m. Following the ribbon cutting, the pool will be open to the public at no charge on opening day.
The updated pool includes: a new, large, twisting and turning water slide for riders 48 inches or taller; a new zero-entry pool with water depth sloping 3 feet 6 inches and featuring a child splash area, play feature and mini slide; diving well pool featuring three diving boards; and an Olympic-sized lap pool featuring eight swim lanes and an ADA-accessible ramp.
YMCA staff will count guests to maintain capacity, according to a press release from the city.
Parker Skophammer, director of administrative services for the city of Mankato, said sales tax dollars were used to fund the $8.5 million construction project.
“We’re excited to open this up,” he said. “The pool was, frankly, in a condition of disrepair. At that point the City Council had to make a decision if the community would continue to have this asset or would we close. We heard from the public this was important to them.
“I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised when it opens and they’re able to utilize it.”
The pool passed a state inspection on Wednesday, Skophammer said, allowing the facility to open. The pool’s opening date had been pushed back a few times, primarily due to weather.
Swimmers likely found their way to other regional pools while Tourtellotte was closed. Area options for them are North Mankato, Waseca and Gaylord, he said.
“This is going to be a place the community can be proud of,” Skophammer said of the pool, which was built in 1940. “It’s definitely going to be a quality-of-life asset.”
The YMCA is the pool’s operator and has hired almost 50 employees to staff it this summer.
Younger swimmers will need to prove their swimming ability by passing a one-time swim test. The test is required for youth 14 years of age and younger to swim in the deep end and diving area. A free swim test will be available 5-8 p.m. Wednesday for youth who want to be tested prior to the official pool opening. After the pool opens, swim tests will be available daily.
Following their one-time swim test, youth who are able to swim safely on their own will be given a season wristband, which will allow them access to the deep end and diving area.
Swim tests aren’t required for swimming in the shallow end of the lap pool or in the zero-entry pool.
Beginning July 19, daily admission for the pool will be $5 for ages 5 and up. Punch passes — 10 punches for $45 — will be available for purchase. Infants to 4-year-olds are free. And children younger than 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of excitement,” Skophammer said. “It’s not the same complex they remember. Improvements have been made.”