Summer is coming, and Manchester will be ready according to Parks and Recreation Commission Director Ben Page.

The public pool was filled over three days last week and is being heated. Page said they take three days to fill the pool so that the 330,000 gallons of water it requires does not affect anyone’s water service on the north end of town.

The pool received two coats of epoxy paint plus striping, which were completed the first week of May. There is also a new children’s slide installed, which looks like a polar bear.

Page said the improvements to the pool come at a good time, as on July 23 the pool will be closed as Manchester hosts the conference swim meet, bringing hundreds of swimmers and their parents to town.

The pool will be open from 4 p.m. until dusk from May 29 until June 6. The last day of school at West Delaware is scheduled for June 5. Page said the pool is not opened before Memorial Day because much of the staff is young and are busy with graduation activities.

Page added that a lot of people have taken advantage of the dual pool pass option, which for $20 more on a family pass allows a family to use either the Manchester or Dyersville pools. A family pass costs $115 and allows an unlimited number of immediate family members. A babysitter option is also available, allowing a person to be included on the family pass.

A single pass is $55, or daily fees are $1.50 for children three years old and under and $3 for people four years old and above. Pool passes will be available at City Hall until the pool opens. Page said group and private swim lessons are also available.

Band shell
Those visiting the pool may notice the Tirrill Park band shell looking better after getting two new coats of paint last week. The epoxy paint process is made to flow with the concrete when it expands and contracts because of heat and cold.

The band shell was built in 1936 and cost $13,000. Now, the bid to paint it was $13,100. Page said that even though the funding for the project comes out of the Tirrill Park Fund, the City of Manchester still put the painting out for bid to receive competitive pricing.

“Everything we do in Tirrill Park is paid for through the trust – whether it be mowing and day-to-day maintenance or extraordinary improvements like the lights or Tirrill Park Fountain,” Page said of a trust fund set up by Sen. Tirrill. “It’s a great benefit to our city to have a trust fund provide the maintenance and improvements for our largest park.”

Len Strasburg was the Tirrill Park trustee, and the painting was the last official approved improvement under his watch. Joe Wiewel at First State Bank will be the Tirrill Park trustee and will work directly with the Parks and Recreation Commission for any improvements at Tirrill Park.

Chirping birds, noisy geese and the rustle of leaves makes Lake’s End Cabin Resorts a peaceful getaway.

“It’s a real peaceful area,” said Dave Fink, who along with his wife Vicki, owns and operates the newly constructed resort. “There are mature walnut trees all around and it’s real secluded.”

The Fink’s constructed three cabins and a bunkhouse during the mild winter months with the help of Dave’s construction business, Dave’s Complete Construction out of Delhi. The cabins have kitchenettes and all the amenities are there.

“The only thing required is clothing and food,” said Vicki. “We even have fresh towel service everyday.”