A new face will be at the pool as summer launches this month. Emmy Babcock, formerly of Colorado, has been in the aquatics industry for the bulk of her adult life. She recently moved to the Sapulpa area to take the position of Aquatics Director.
She landed in Sapulpa just in time to experience the rounds of severe weather the town had before Memorial Day Weekend, but she appears to have warmed up nicely to the neighborhood, and is excited about all the different programs Sapulpa offers at its aquatic center.
The pool is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 6 pm, except on Thursdays, when they close at 8pm. During the week, a special event called “calmer waters” begins at 11am.
“Calmer Waters” is what Babcock describes as “quiet time,” great for parents of little kids who want to give them a bit of extra time without all the excitement of the regular pool crowd so they can learn to swim better. It’s also great for those with sensory issues who want to enjoy a more relaxing session at the pool.
Unlike a lot of businesses in Sapulpa, the Sapulpa Aquatic Center is open on Sundays from noon to 6pm.
They also do a lot of private parties on Friday through Sunday, but most dates for those have already been booked, Babcock says.
In the past, the center had a break from 3:00 to 3:30p and everyone got out of the pool. Babcock says she’s expanding that to the last five minutes of every hour. “It’s a good idea, but I want to split that up throughout the day,” she said.
Previously, fecal contamination would cause the pool to close for the rest of the day, depending on when an accident occurred. Babcock is hoping more frequent breaks will give swimmers the chance they need to use the restroom and result in fewer fecal contamination episodes.
Overall, Babcock said she’s looking forward to a busy summer crowd as the weather warms up.
“I’ve heard this place gets very busy. I’m excited to see it in full force,” she said. “I think it’s going to be really great. I really like seeing people having fun in the water; that’s why I’ve done this forever and will probably continue to do it. It’s just an asset that people really value.”
The price for swimming is $4 per person during regular hours. Anyone under 3 years of age is free.
The Youth Triathlon This Weekend
The Sapulpa Parks Youth Triathlon is happening this Saturday at the Aquatic Center and at Liberty Park. The triathlon is now in its fourth year and features running, bicycling, and swimming. Registration for the event has closed, but the public are welcome to visit and cheer on the athletes.
Learn more about Emmy Babcock in the live Timeloop Show we did with her recently:
