Residents urge later pool hours, clearer signage as Crystal Beach reopens

Madison City Park Board members heard staff reports that Crystal Beach opened to heavy use and initial revenues, and residents urged changes to hours, signage and online information to make the pool more accessible to working families.

Tanya Burnett, parks operations staff, told the board Crystal Beach’s concessions and admissions brought in $19,683.16 in the first five days after opening and that the facility passed health department inspections. “We should have profit and loss for the campground and Crystal Beach” by the July meeting, she said, noting staff are still refining reporting from the new registration and point-of-sale software.

The revenue and operations updates were followed by public comment. Lisa Ferguson, a Madison resident, said the pool’s weekday schedule excludes many two-income families because the facility closes at 6 p.m. “Working families cannot come to the pool Monday through Friday,” she said, urging the board to explore sponsored late-night openings so people who work until 5 p.m. can swim later. Ferguson also asked for clearer signage and posted prices so visitors understand Crystal Beach is a public pool and know current admission rates.

Jan Vatrous, another resident, urged staff to examine how programming and lessons are scheduled to allow simultaneous swim lessons, fitness classes and family swim. “It is a huge pool compared to normal pools. There are ways to include multiple things going on at that pool,” she said, while also warning that running lessons and open swim at the same time raises lifeguard staffing and safety challenges.

Board members and staff discussed trade-offs. Burnett said swim lessons and some evening classes already run late — “they are full” and run until nearly 8 p.m. — and lifeguard and instructor schedules affect the feasibility of extended public swim hours. Christian Hansen, parks maintenance staff, deferred operational scheduling details to lifeguarding and programming staff but confirmed the pool’s chemical systems and related technical work had been completed and the pool “is packed.”

Burnett noted upcoming programs and events that affect hours and staffing: swim lessons begin June 9, junior lifeguarding spots remain, and the next Mayor’s movie in the park is set for June 20. She also said parade staging will move south of Main Street this year to ease congestion; parade applications are due June 20 at madison-in.gov/parade.

No formal action or vote on pool hours, signage or extended evening openings occurred during the meeting. Board members asked staff to review programming and staffing options and to confirm that admission prices and hours are posted on the website and on-site.

Residents and board members said the public should be included in future planning about schedules and neighborhood impacts.

The board will next meet July 2 at 4:00 p.m.