MARFA — Summer is fast approaching, signaling the start of the swimming season where many take to local pools for relief from the desert heat. While the town of Marfa has limited options for public swimming, some amenities are available with the city and Parks and Recreation Board working to open the pool and install a splash pad soon.
MAC pool
An opening date for the Marfa Activities Center (MAC) pool is contingent upon hiring and training new lifeguards, City Manager Mandy Roane said. The city is seeking several lifeguards, who must be at least 16 years of age, and a pool manager, who must be at least 18.
Roane said three people — one to work the door and two shallow and deep end lifeguards — are needed to work the pool at all times. She said the city would ideally like to have around six summer pool employees for rotation purposes, in case someone is sick or on vacation. All employees will be required to obtain their lifeguard certifications.
The hourly rate for the pool manager is $15 an hour, and the hourly rate for lifeguards is $13 an hour. The deadline to apply is May 10. At the most recent City Council meeting, Roane said the city is putting ads in the paper and fliers up around town to spread the word so they can get lifeguards hired and the pool open sooner rather than later.
“We need to get it done so we can get lifeguard training scheduled so that we’re not rushing and having to delay the opening of the pool to get them certified,” Roane said.
Open hours for the pool will also be contingent upon how many lifeguards the city can hire and their availability, she said. In a follow-up with The Big Bend Sentinel, Roane said repairs to the MAC’s solar panels, which help power the facility, have been completed and pool preparation will begin soon.
Splash pad
Marfa’s Parks and Recreation Board is hard at work on a number of improvement projects for Coffield Park, including the installation of a splash pad. The splash pad will likely be activated by a button and will not have any standing water, meaning it will not require any lifeguards. It will be located north of the existing shade structure playground.
Michael Camacho, Parks Board president, said they were still on track to have the splash pad installed this summer, but an exact timeline has not been determined. Marfa City Council recently voted to approve vendor Vortex Aquatic Structures, and now the Parks Board has a request for proposals (RFP) out to find someone who can install the structure. Camacho said there are no companies locally who can perform the work, so they will have to attract an outside contractor.
The cost estimate for the new splash pad is $200,000, and it will be approximately 800 square feet. Construction on a new kitchen and bathroom adjacent to the park’s existing gazebo — which was set to be done this spring — is still ongoing. Camacho said next steps are to pour concrete in the kitchen area, then bring in masons to construct the walls.
Hotel Saint George
The pool at the Hotel Saint George is free for locals 21 and up after 4 p.m. Hotel guests have complimentary access, and non-guests can pay $30 for a day pass. Chef Jocelyn Jerrils is hosting a culinary pop-up starting at 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays featuring noodles, dumplings, chicken wings and more.
Thunderbird
The Thunderbird Hotel pool is open to guests, and day passes are available to non-guests at the front desk from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with limited availability. The pool is open until 9 p.m. The cost is $5 for children and $10 for adults. Children under 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.