Indoor Facility Features Three Pools, Spa, Fitness Room and More
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (May 28, 2010) Following years of anticipation, Calvert County is poised for a big splash as the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center opens its doors to the public on Tuesday, June 8, at 3 p.m.
All visitors will be admitted for free on June 8 from 3 to 10 p.m. Regular hours of operation and fees will begin on Wednesday, June 9.
The 41,000-square-foot facility is located at 130 Auto Drive in Prince Frederick. Its state-of-the-art features include a competition pool, leisure pool, therapy pool, spa/hot tub, a fitness room, men's and women's locker rooms, a family changing room and a party room. The center is managed by the Calvert County Division of Parks and Recreation.
"The Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center is a world-class swimming facility and a place where the community can come to learn, play and have fun," said Calvert County Board of County Commissioners President Wilson Parran. "It is a beautiful new county amenity that will provide many opportunities for recreation, training and therapeutic services. Calvert County residents have long awaited the opening of this aquatic center."
The county's only indoor aquatic center is named for Edward T. Hall, a Calvert County native who served in the Maryland Senate from 1958 until his death in 1978. He was also a co-founder of the Calvert Independent newspaper in 1940.
Aquatic Center Features
The pool area of the county's first indoor aquatic center is enclosed with a pre-engineered aluminum structure supporting translucent fiberglass roof panels that can be opened. The adjacent two-level support building is conventional steel and concrete construction with an upper spectator mezzanine gallery that seats 260 spectators for competitive events. Total capacity for the center is 1,600 persons.
The 50-meter by 25-yard Olympic-sized pool features four 10-lane lap areas, three diving boards and a movable bulkhead allowing for multiple certified competitive swimming course configurations. Depths range from four feet to 12.9 feet.
Families can romp in the leisure pool that is heated to 82-84°F and has a beach-style entry and depths ranging from zero to three feet. Three slides, in-water climbing features and water drop buckets make for hours of splashy fun. Adults age 18 years and older can relax in the spa/hot tub that is heated to 100°F. The 28-feet by 52-feet therapy pool has three sets of adjustable walking bars, perimeter hand rails and an underwater bench.
Aquatic center support facilities include men's and women's locker rooms with individual showers and changing stalls, automatic hand/hair dryers, daily-use lockers and restrooms. The family changing room has a handicap-accessible shower, restroom and a child changing station.
The center's fitness room features 11 pieces of fitness equipment. Patrons 18 years of age and older can access the fitness room at no additional cost as part of the regular pass or daily admission. A party room located on the pool level is available for rent for $130 per 1.5 hours which includes facility admission and one party concierge staff person. The maximum capacity is 20 people including adults and/or chaperones. The party room will be available for reservation beginning July 1. Beginning Monday, June 14, at 9 a.m., reservations can be made in person at the center or by phone at 410.414.8350.
The Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center will be open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. General daily admission for adults age 18 to 59 is $6; seniors age 60 and over is $4; children age 3 to 17 is $4; children age 1 to 2 is $2; and children under age 1 are admitted free. Children 12 years of age and younger require supervision by a responsible person 16 years of age or older.
Seasonal passes are also available for purchase.
To learn more about the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center and other Calvert County recreational opportunities, visit www.co.cal.md.us/residents/parks/.