T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Lifeguards clean out the pool in preparation for opening day Saturday, May 28, at Barnesville Memorial Park Pool. Pictured, from left, are Emma Wharton and Kyla Morris.

BARNESVILLE — Area swimming pools are gearing up for opening day with some dates set for this weekend ahead of Memorial Day.

Barnesville Memorial Park Director Rich Wells said the village pool would open at noon Saturday, May 28.

“It’s always been the same, we always open up the Saturday before Memorial Day. The pool is filled and it’s ready to go,” he said.

Wells, along with lifeguards Kyla Morris and Emma Wharton, have been working hard this week to ensure everything is set for opening day.

Morris, a college student who has been a lifeguard for the village for the past five years, said they have just been finishing up the final touches like cleaning the pool and fixing any small issues.

Wells said he is looking forward to a good summer, and hopefully nice weather for opening day.

Though there will be a charge this weekend, an all-day free swim day will be held July 2. Wells said midnight swims will be held every Monday and only cost $1.

Allen Pool in St. Clairsville will also welcome back swimmers at noon Saturday. Kate Banks, park manager, said the city will be offering free admission Saturday through Monday.

Pool passes will also be offered at a discounted rate leading up to Memorial Day.

“I’m excited for the sun and the swimming. I can’t wait,” she said of the opening.

Banks said the pool is filled and ready to go.

“It’s about 73 degrees so it’s still on the chilly side but warmer than it has been in the past years,” she said, adding that the pool temperature is typically under 70 degrees on opening day.

This summer, Banks said they plan to hold moonlight swims from 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. She said they are working to plan some theme nights as well that will be announced later on.

In Powhatan Point, the swimming pool and splash pad opening date has been pushed to June 6 due to painting maintenance.

“We usually open on Memorial Day but we were going to paint this year, but the weather has not been cooperating. And with pool paint, as soon as you’re done putting your last coat on, it takes seven days for it to dry and every day that it rains you have to add another day,” pool manager Caleb Glass explained.

Glass said they had originally planned to repaint the entire pool; however, due to delays in the shipment of paint they ordered, they have postponed that project.

“We’re just going to patch the pool and paint where we’ve patched. We’ve already ordered the paint so once it gets here we’re going to do our season without painting the pool and then we’re going to paint it as soon as the season is done, so next year it will be fresh paint and everything,” he said.

For this year’s opening, an adult swim will be held from 11 a.m. to noon and general admission from noon to 6 p.m. June 6. Glass said there will be free admission, hot dogs and drinks on opening day.

“We are looking forward to everybody coming back. We had a really good turnout last year. Our splash pad will be up and running again this year,” he said. “We are a hidden gem in the valley. This is our 50th year. A lot of people don’t realize we’re here.”

Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies said the Purple City is hoping to open the Martins Ferry Recreation Center pool at noon Monday. He said they have some finishing touches to do prior to doing so including some outer line painting around the pool, which should be complete in the coming days. Also, the lifeguards must finish up training before they can open.

“The pool is ready, we just got to get the life guards trained,” he added.