Hundreds flock to Beckley pool on opening day

Opening day for the Sharon Dempsey Memorial Pool at New River Park went off with a splash.

Beckley Parks and Recreation Director Leslie Gray Baker said the pool had around 200 guests as of Tuesday afternoon, with roughly two hours left until it closed for the day.

Baker said the slide at the New River pool remains closed due to structural issues with the wooden stairs and bridge leading up to the slide.

She said she hopes to get the repair plans approved this week so that her staff can begin the reconstruction work next week.

Depending on the weather, Baker said she hopes to open the slide by the third week of June.

“It looks like, once we get the slide up and running, we’re going to have a great summer,” Baker said.

The Sharon Dempsey Memorial Pool at New River will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The fee for admittance to the pool is $4.50 for seniors and children age 4-17 and $5.50 for adults.

When the slide opens, admission to the pool’s large slide will cost an additional $2.50.

The city’s other pool at Historic Black Knight Municipal Park will remain closed for the year.