New Pickleball Courts in Clarksburg: The Splash Zone at Veterans Park in Clarksburg will close for the season on Saturday, August 17. Originally, City Parks of Clarksburg had planned to keep the Splash Zone open until Labor Day. However, the early start of the school year led to a shortage of high school and college-age employees, making it unfeasible to extend operations.
Doug Comer, Superintendent of City Parks of Clarksburg, cited staffing as the main issue.
“We exhausted all options on opening for Labor Day weekend, and it just comes down to staffing. For our park to operate safely, we need a minimum of 15 lifeguards on duty while at max capacity.” – (Doug Comer)
The challenge of staffing has been a recurring issue in recent years.
“We looked at opening later in the day and even on the weekends up through August, but most kids attend school out of the area and others have sports commitments.” – (Doug Comer)
Despite the early closure, the Splash Zone enjoyed a more extended season this year, thanks to record heat and a nearly month-long drought, which drew many to the pool. Comer noted, “This weather brought many people out to the pool to take advantage of the cool water.” The pool will continue to operate from noon to 7 p.m. until it officially closes for the season.
In the meantime, the new pickleball courts will open on Saturday, adding to the recreational options for the community.
News in Brief: New Pickleball Courts in Clarksburg
The Splash Zone at Veterans Park in Clarksburg will close its season on August 17 due to staffing shortages caused by an early school year start. Despite plans to extend the season, the lack of available high school and college-age employees made it impractical.
City Parks Superintendent Doug Comer noted that maintaining the pool requires 15 lifeguards at peak times, and scheduling conflicts prevented extended hours. This year, the pool saw increased usage due to extreme heat and drought. Following its closure, new pickleball courts will open at the park.
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