Community Services previews summer pool, programs, park improvements

Paul King, the town's Community Services representative, presented the department's quarterly report and outlined the summer schedule: pool opening from Memorial Day through Labor Day with an emphasis on swim lessons; teen nights and family events; a summer reading program kickoff May 30; July 4 Freedom Fest with a partnered barbecue-eating contest; and Missoula Children's Theatre performances in early July.

King also reviewed facility and parks improvements: new benches, picnic tables, pet stations and splash-pad upgrades; installation of new swings and shade structures by the end of the fiscal year; and continued programming at the senior center (including a weekly biscuits-and-gravy morning and planned day trips). The summer day camp will operate for kindergarten through sixth graders from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting May 19. The department said registration and the activity guide will be available at the Community Services office and provided a front-desk contact number.

Council members praised staff for recent events (Road to Country Thunder, Eggstravaganza) and asked about pool hours and lifeguard capacity; staff said swim lessons are the top priority because of drowning-safety concerns and that expanding open evening swim depends on staffing and funding. Council also noted library programming and equipment lending (Glowforge, sewing machine, pressure washer) as growing community services.

Contact and next steps: King gave the department's address (778 North Main Street) and phone number ((520) 868-7040) for program registration and questions. Council members encouraged continued outreach and thanked staff for event execution.