The city of Warrenton opened its brand new aquatic center and 39-acre Warrenton Pool Park to the public for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 6, welcoming guests to enjoy what has been more than a year in the making.

The indoor and outdoor aquatic center is the main attraction at the park, and is where city officials held their opening ceremony and ribbon cutting on Saturday. A freshly paved extension of Warrior Avenue at Highway 47 leads to the park.

Parents and children in swimsuits waited patiently through the opening ceremony to be allowed into the pool for free on opening day. They became animated as they entered and were greeted by a 7,000-square-foot indoor pool with a lazy river, water slide and fountains for small children. The aquatic center also features a 2,400-square-foot outdoor pool with a diving board.

The aquatic center hours are split between time dedicated to specific programs and hours for open swim. Winter hours at the aquatic center are as follows:

• Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Lap swim, programs, and river walk.

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 4-8 p.m. — Open swim.

• Tuesday and Thursday, 4-8 p.m. — Programs.

• Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to noon — Lap swim, programs, and river walk.

• Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. — Open swim.

The hours for the pools will change during the summer season.

Admission fees for the aquatic center can be found at the city of Warrenton’s website, www.warrenton-mo.org.

Parents who brought their children to play at the pool on its first day said they were happy to have it open.

“It’s great to have an activity like this in Warrenton,” said Brandy Griffin, who came to the opening with her family. She said the kids loved playing in the pool, and that her family is interested in purchasing pool passes.

Others commented that the aquatic center will be a good place to go when the weather turns cold.

The Warrenton Pool Park has several other amenities that are open to the public now. Visitors can now take advantage of pavilions, walking trails and a fenced-in dog park inside the park grounds. A new disc golf course has also been touted among the attractions at the park.

Although the weather turned sour in the afternoon, two disc golf enthusiasts came out early to play. Dan Peraino and Matt Canada came from St. Charles County to see the course. They said they had heard about the park opening through Facebook, and were enjoying the course.

“Me and Dan get out and play as much as we can,” Canada commented.

Costs more to operate

The Warrenton Board of Aldermen has approved a $418,000 contract with Midwest Pool Management to run daily operations at the new aquatic center. Midwest is the same private company that managed the previous city pool.

Operating the aquatic center year-round will cost the city significantly more than the summer-only operations at the now-retired Morgan Street pool facility.

The cost of the previous, summer-only pool management contract was $95,000 for 2018.

The bulk of the cost for running the aquatic center is employee payroll. Warrenton will pay a maximum of $376,640 for a staff of managers and lifeguards, who are considered employees of Midwest Pool Management.

Midwest’s contract also includes a $41,500 “management fee,” which includes costs such as staff training and liability insurance.

Warrenton city staff will be responsible for any equipment repairs, as well as building and grounds maintenance. The city also pays for all utility costs at the aquatic center, which will also be higher than the previous pool.

Children play with fountains in the children's area of the indoor pool at the new Warrenton Aquatic Center. The indoor/outdoor pool facility and surrounding park opened to the public Oct. 6. 

Disc golf enthusiast Dan Peraino lines up a shot at the disc golf course in Warrenton Pool Park, which opened to the public Oct. 6. Peraino and friend Matt Canada came to play the course after hearing about the new park on Facebook.