March 5, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2013
For additional information,
Please contact: Scott Bird
Moxley Carmichael
(865) 544-0088
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Complete information available on Facebook page
The Kingsport Aquatic Center will soon making a big splash in our community. The region’s newest, most comprehensive public aquatic and recreation facility is scheduled to open in mid-May and details are being finalized, including the cost of using the new facility.
“The facility rates have just been approved by our Board of Mayor and Aldermen,” said Kari Matheney, the center’s director. “We will soon be accepting memberships and scheduling events. We are on track to open in mid-May.”
The city staff, working in conjunction with an eight-member advisory board, determined rates based on research on several similar facilities in the Southeast.
The daily admission fee to the aquatic center for adults is $8; for seniors (age 55 and older) and youth ages 3-21, the cost is $6; and a family rate is $30. Children 2 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult.
Seasonal memberships for those interested in enjoying the outdoor water park areas for the Memorial Day to Labor Day season are as follows: $125 for adults, $75 for youth and seniors and $200 for family. Annual memberships are also available at $325 for adults, $230 for youth and seniors and $475 for family.
A complete list of Kingsport Aquatic Center membership options is available at http://www.facebook.com/swimkingsport. Memberships and passes will be available for purchase at Kingsport City Hall’s Customer Service Center, 225 W. Center St., beginning Monday, March 11.
Located at the foot of scenic Bays Mountain in Kingsport’s Meadowview district, the state-of-the-art facility features both indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities and activities. The 46,000-square-foot inside area includes the region’s only indoor Olympic-size eight-lane, 50-meter pool; a four-lane, 25-meter, zero-entry pool specially designed for instruction and therapy; and a leisure pool with water slide. Also inside are one-meter and three-meter diving platforms. The center’s world-class pools and equipment are designed for all levels of competitive sports. The outdoor water park, open Memorial Day through Labor Day, features a large pool with a water playground and lily pad crossing, two water slides, a 900-foot lazy river and a concession area.
American Red Cross swim lessons, water aerobics, safety courses, facility rentals and lane rentals will be available in the new center. Complete birthday party package options are also available.
“We have even partnered with Cattails at Meadowview to offer a ‘Swing and Splash’ membership, which includes aquatic center, golf and dining benefits,” said Matheney. “And a ‘City Pass’ membership offers a combination of aquatic center and Bays Mountain Park Association memberships and Cattails at Meadowview discounts. Full details are available on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/swimkingsport.”
Additionally, a special scholarship fund, the LeLand and Marilyn Davis Friends of the Aquatic Center Fund, has been established for swimming instruction assistance. The funds are intended to help those who would not otherwise be able to enjoy the full scope of activities available at the center without the necessary swimming skills. The fund is hosted through the K-Play Sports Council, a 501(c)3 organization administered by the Kingsport Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“We want this to be the go-to place for family-centered fun and fitness in our community,” said Matheney. “We invite everyone to visit us on Facebook; then get ready to jump in, make a splash, and have some fun at the Kingsport Aquatic Center.”
About the Kingsport Aquatic Center
The Kingsport Aquatic Center is the region’s newest and most comprehensive indoor/outdoor public aquatic and recreation facility. Located in Kingsport’s Meadowview district at the base of iconic Bays Mountain, the center provides area residents and visitors with the best in health, fitness and recreation features in a safety-focused environment. The Kingsport Aquatic Center features the area’s only indoor Olympic-size pool plus year-round swim courses and Red Cross-certified water safety and lifeguard training. A seasonal outdoor water park offers recreational activities from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Seasonal, annual and daily rates are available. For more information, call 423-440-9841 or visit http://www.facebook.com/swimkingsport.
