When the city’s seven pools opened a few weeks ago, we knew we needed experts to help us test the waters. We called our trusty soon-to-be fifth-grade correspondents Ella Fabozzi and Sophia Johnson (formerly known as the second-grade, third-grade and fourth-grade correspondents). After a months-long hiatus, we put them to work on the ultimate assignment: The great summer splashdown of 2010. Here’s how they rated Concord’s pools on a scale of
1 – 10.
Rolfe Pool
Rating: 7
“The temperature was warm, but not so warm that it wasn’t refreshing. There was a nice touch with the 1 ½-foot wading pool, but it was yellowish. It had leaves and bugs and it had an uncomfortable warmth. The toys were basically foam play bricks and ping rings.
“There was a softball/baseball field, lots of parking, a large field and a fun playground. On a scale of 1–10, we give it a 7.”
Garrison Pool
Rating: 8
“The pool was deeper than Rolfe, but quite boring. The temperature was mighty fine.
“The playground was AMAZING. There were 12-14 hoops to climb through, and if you looked to your right you would see a park bench by a beautiful forest. If you sat in it, you would feel like you were in “Anne of Green Gables,” or “The Secret Garden.”
“Something that was cool about the pool was that across the street was a dairy farm. On a scale of 1–10, we give it an 8.”
Kimball Pool
Rating: 8.5
“The temperature was perfect. It might be boring if you didn’t have someone with you.
“We didn’t have time to check out the playground because we were in the pool for 45 minutes having some F–U–N. On a scale of 1–10, we give it an 8.5.”
Rollins Park Pool
Rating: 9
“The temperature felt perfect. It wasn’t too dirty in the deep end, but dirtier in the shallow end.
“What makes this pool unique is that it is the only public pool in Concord that has a place to pe and a lap lane. A boy we know drove across town just to be able to pe in.
“On a scale of 1–10, we give it 9. It is a great family pool.”
Keach Park Pool
Rating: 6
“The temperature wasn’t bad. It was normal.
“It was kind of like Kimball Pool. It might be boring if you weren’t with a friend.
“On a scale of 1–10, we give it a 6.”
Merrill Pool
Rating: 7.5
“We liked Merrill. The temperature was more refreshing than Keach.
“The pool was basically the same as Keach, but without the shade and with a tennis court. On a scale of 1–10, we give it 7.5.”
White Park Pool
Rating: 9
“We didn’t get to swim at White Park pool because someone had an accident.
“It has fun features, including a whale that spurts water from its blowhole, a huge mushroom that makes a curtain of water to go under, and a giant structure with tipping buckets.
“You stand under it and you get soaked. On a scale of 1–10, we give it a 9, but people ages 8 and up might prefer a larger pool.”
