Natatorium re-opens after holiday polishing

The Biloxi Natatorium opened its doors this morning after a three-week holiday sprucing up, but attendance at the city’s indoor Olympic-size swimming pool facility was off this morning.

“We haven’t had a whole lot of people today, and we didn’t anticipate having a lot considering the cold weather,” said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jamie Lee, who helped oversee the three-week chore that included pressure washing the deck surrounding the pool, painting new depth markings around the deck and vacuuming the pool gutters.

“Vacuuming the gutters took the longest time of the work,” Lee said. “It requires removing the grates around the edge of the pool, vacuuming any debris and then re-installing the grates. We appreciate everyone’s patience while we did this work.”

The Natatorium, incidentally, maintains a temperature of 80 to 82 degrees inside and outside the pool, but, Lee said, with extreme cold as is expected tonight, the pool temperature could dip a degree or two.

The Natatorium pool ranges from 4 to 13 feet and features two diving boards, a one-meter board and a three-meter board. The Natatorium averaged about 60 swimmers a day in 2013, Lee said.

Snyder hours: While the work was taking place at the Natatorium, hours at the Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center pool, at 2520 Pass Road, had been expanded. Today, those hours return to their regular routine: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 a.m. to noon; and Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m.

More info: For more information about the Biloxi Natatorium or Snyder pools or the city’s swimming lessons, email jlee@biloxi.ms.us


News and notes

Hard freeze warning: Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing — as low as the upper teens — around sunset this evening and remain there until around noon Tuesday. Residents are encourage to protect plants, pipes and pets from the elements. Read more about the forecast and find helpful info in the Hard Freeze Warning notice by
clicking here.

City Council meeting: The Biloxi City Council faces an agenda of 17 measures for its first meeting of the year, which takes place Tuesday at 6 p.m. Among the issues: plans for a new boat launch on Back Bay at the I-110 overpass. To see the complete agenda and supporting documents,
click here.

More cold weather tips: The Biloxi Fire Department’s web page offers advice on preparing your home for cold weather. To see the Winter Fire Safety icon on the Fire Department page, click here.