One Week Left To Make A Splash

Almost every weekend morning in the summer squealing toddlers can be found splashing around in the Prince George's Swimming Pool while many Friday evenings the facility hosts potlucks for its championship swim team.

It's a place where about 500 families spend their time relaxing, socializing and cooling off in the neighborhood pool that serves residents in Hyattsville, Washington, D.C., and many other neighboring areas.

"I've been coming to this pool for 20 years," said Carol Gordon of Washington, adding that she and a group of senior citizens attend the pool two to three times a week to do range-of-motions exercises. "One of the ladies 92 years old! It's a great way for us to get exercise and a good way to get vitamin D."

The PG Pool, as it is known, is a private pool run by its members. Each member pays a co-op fee that is returned if they choose to perform a set number of service hours for the pool.

The membership board has the ability to set the co-op fee and required number of service hours each year and tasks range anywhere from helping paint picnic tables to helping maintain the website.

"Members who do their fair share get their fee back. That way there's no resentment for those who choose not to," said Mary Melchoir, the new president of the PG Pool.

The pool's swim team, the Killer Whales, won the division F championship in the Prince-Mont Summer Swim League this year – something the team's members are very excited about, Melchoir said.

"They practice Monday through Thursday, we hold a potluck for the team here on Fridays and then either we host the meet here Saturday morning or they go to another pool in the division," she said.

Children up to age 18 or 19 – depending on where their birthday falls – who can swim 25 meters are eligible to be on the team.

Melchoir said during the off-season, which ends Labor Day weekend, the board plans to re-line the toddler pool and eventually move an onsite sandbox and make it bigger – as of now the children tend to use the volleyball court to meet their sand box needs.

"Different people like different things about the pool and people who love the pool spread the word," she said. "But there's no way an organization like this, when most of the members do the work, where everything goes smoothly. But there's very few bumps."

There are a few more events for members before the pool closes for the season. Visit the pool Sept. 3 for Making Waves, which features a late night swim, a campfire and s'mores. The Nee Ningy Band will perform their "old-timey folk and twang music" Sept. 4 and food and live music will be performed by Charles Steck and friends.