As the city of Faribault’s recreation superintendent, Kevin O’Brien oversees a robust schedule of community activities for people of all ages.
During the summer months, many of those are at the Faribault Family Aquatics Center. O’Brien anticipated welcoming around 30,000 patrons to the pool between June 1 and Aug. 18.
A leak in the pool caused a delay to the opening this year, with the pool inactive throughout June. After crews were able to identify and repair the problem, in the face of heavy rains and flooding in the area, the pool will open July 6.
And Parks and Recreation staff hope the facility can pick up where it left off as a local and regional hub.
“Faribault was the first town in the area to have an aquatics center of this size,” said O’Brien of the now-22-year-old facility, “and lately, we’ve learned we draw some swimmers from the metro area, too, because the pools in southern Minnesota aren’t always as busy as those in the Cities.”
With a 12,232-square-foot pool, 330,000 gallons of water, two climbing walls, a diving board, zero-depth entry water access, three body/tube slides, six shade canopies and a daily toddler swim time throughout the season, there’s always plenty of action at this Faribault hot weather spot.
“We’re open from noon to 8 p.m. seven days a week unless there’s thunder or lightning or the temperature is below 68 degrees,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien and his staff strive to keep it lively and interesting.
“We put inflatables in the pool once a week — it alternates between Wednesdays and Thursdays and alternating Sundays — to create an obstacle course intended more for older kids,” he said, adding that a schedule of the inflatable dates will be published on the aquatics center’s website. “It’s a nice way to change up the usage of the space.”
Speaking of older kids, O’Brien has programmed monthly teen nights at the pool from 8:30 to 10 p.m., complete with a DJ and teen-oriented activities. The teen nights are scheduled for July 23 and Aug. 7.
Movie nights that are free and open to all will take place Aug. 2 and Aug. 9.
“On free movie nights, there’s free swimming from 8 p.m. until it’s dark enough for the movie,” said O’Brien, explaining that it’s shown on an 18-by-20-foot movie screen and viewers get comfortable in the grassy area adjacent to the pool.
A new feature this year is a gaga ball pit, and patrons can count on the return of bean bags and a large sand play area with digging amenities — plus the ever-popular concession stand.
O’Brien assures that the aquatics area draws Faribault’s full array of human diversity.
“And in partnership with Faribault Community Education, we’ve received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to offer free swimming lessons to low-income and BIPOC residents,” O’Brien said.
“A certain portion of those funds is devoted to recruiting and training BIPOC individuals as lifeguards and swim instructors,” he continued. “We’d definitely like to increase those numbers.”
O’Brien is an advocate for the benefits of summer aquatics pursuits because they encourage kids, teens and adults to be physically active in the great outdoors and they’re a source of community-building.
And who knows? Maybe a few 13-year-olds obsessed with the diving board or climbing wall this summer could develop into future recreation superintendents themselves.
“I’ve been involved in some form of aquatics recreation since I started swimming lessons as a kid and began doing competitive swimming at age 7,” said O’Brien, who swam throughout high school in his hometown of Hastings and during his college years at University of Wisconsin, River Falls.
“I majored in conservation and biology and thought I’d work for the DNR, but my interest in aquatics kept leading me to aquatics recreation jobs,” he said. He spent several years as the high school swimming coach in Red Wing, among other jobs, before making Faribault his home.
“I love working with high school and college-aged staff to provide aquatic recreation for communities, and the hustle and bustle of summer is something I look forward to in most ways every year.
He said it is also satisfying to see families and people of all ages benefit from the aquatics center and programming opportunities.
“Playing with mom and dad in the water is an important part of helping kids learn to swim because it makes them more comfortable and helps them progress faster in their own swimming abilities,” he said.
“That means they’re safer in the water over time. Enroll your kids in swimming lessons and take them to the pool,” he advised.
“Get in there with them and play.”
More information about city of Faribault recreation opportunities, and details about fees, passes, programs and hours at the Faribault Family Aquatic Center, can be found at ci.faribault.mn.us/632/Parks-Recreation , or by calling 507-334-2064.
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