Many times available at Carson Valley pool

In his July 9 letter to the editor, Michael Hughley of Gardneville expressed dismay about being "forced out" of the Carson Valley Swim Center's outdoor pool by swim team practice and swim meets. His healthy passion for swimming took him to Carson City's aquatic complex.

I am writing to correct an apparent misunderstanding, to invite him to return to his neighborhood swim facility and to take advantage of recent improvements.

The CVSC's outdoor eight-lane pool is open May through September and the indoor pool 364 days a year. The outdoor pool's summer hours are 5:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. At all hours, except during the three weekend swim meets each year, a minimum of two outdoor lanes and a minimum of one indoor lane are available for adult lap swimming.

When the swim team practices in the later afternoon weekdays, it shares the pool, leaving available adult lap swim lanes and space for general public programs. In the case of some swim meets, such as that which finished at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday several weeks ago, the outdoor pool was open to the public the rest of the day. The indoor pool always had lanes available for general public use. Mr. Hughley may ask the lifeguards which lanes are available for adult swimmers.

Improvements finished or nearing completion at the CVSC include a water play area, two enclosed water slides, and a second special needs shower and changing room designed for people with physical disabilities. A new air handling system has been added to reduce humidity and improve air quality, notably during the seven-month indoor only season (October-April). Through August, master swimmers also are invited to coached workouts from 5:30-6:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Non-coached masters practices begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.