In Focus

inFOCUS NEWS BITES FROM AROUND ATLANTA

SALUTE OUR

HEROES This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, and what better way to celebrate than at WWII Heritage Days in Peachtree City? Experience living history demonstrations, enjoy big band music and vintage fashions, see historic military vehicles up close and even take a ride in an authentic WWII aircraft! Sept. 12-13 at the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing Warbird Museum. For more information, visit wwiidays.org.

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Experience one of the most famous stories of all time in a whole new way at Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined! This exhibit features larger than like topiary-like sculptures that bring the classic children’s tale to vivid life, including a new 16-foot Red Queen! Through Nov. 1 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. For more information, visit atlantabg.org.

A Different Kind of Graduation

High school seniors across the country were denied a proper graduation ceremony thanks to shelter-in-place orders. But that didn’t stop Woodward Academy from staging a mobile celebration for its 2020 class! A group of teachers and staff members traveled across metro Atlanta in a caravan of buses in late April to visit graduating seniors stuck at home due to the pandemic. Each student received a yard sign and a goodie bag containing homemade cookies, Woodward Academy M&Ms and a card. Congratulations seniors!

Building a New Future

Whitefield Academy, a Christian independent school located in Smyrna, will open Brostrand Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 10. The new facility will house the school’s pre-K through fourth-grade students. The newest addition to Whitefield’s 100-acre campus is named for former lower school Principal Jeannie

Brostrand, who retired last year.

We Love a Parade

During the recent shelter-in-place order, Town of Braselton first responders staged a parade of flashing lights and sirens to help cheer up local neighborhoods. On April 8, the Braselton Police Department and West Jackson Fire Department teamed up with other local public safety agencies to drive patrol cars, fire trucks and ambulances throughout the town, waving and dispensing smiles to kids and adults alike. Coordinating all those vehicles was no small feat, either, considering that Braselton spans across four different counties. A great time was had by all!

PHOTO: Michael Miller

Find That Special Something

Whether you’re looking for vintage furniture or hand-crafted goods, you’re sure to find something to love at the Braselton Antique and Artisan Festival. This twice-a-year event features 300 vendors showcasing home décor, jewelry, handmade soaps, pottery, artwork and much more. Live music, 10 food trucks and two adult beverage vendors round out the proceedings for a weekend you won’t soon forget. July 24-26 in downtown Braselton. For more informa tion, see visitbraselton.com.

A GUIDE TO ATLANTA’S POOLS AND SWIM SCENE

By Michelle Bourg

Welcome to Atlanta! You may still be getting your bearings, but arriving at this time of year, you’ve likely already figured out just where that “Hotlanta” nickname comes from. Here in the South, we rely on some pretty good strategies for coping with the heat (lots of A/C and plenty of lemonade and sweet tea), but summer time here was made for taking a dip—or several—in the pool. You won’t be sur prised to learn that there are a number of excellent pools and aquatic centers in the metro area, as well as swim classes and competitive teams for kids and adults, so that everyone in the family can enjoy a wet and wild summer. Come on in, the water’s fine! POOLS & AQUATIC CENTERS ALPHARETTA WILLIS PARK POOL The aquatic center at Wills Park reopened in 2018 after a multimillion-dollar renovation, with two pools and a dazzling array of new amenities. The leisure pool features zero-depth entry, interactive play stations, a water slide and plunge area and space for open play and swim classes. The 10-lane competitive pool ranges from four to 12.5 feet deep and has both one- and three-meter diving boards. In addition, there is a remodeled aquatic center with updated locker rooms, as well as a splash park, expanded deck space with picnic areas

and a shade pavilion. General admission is $5 per person for Alpharetta residents, $8 for nonresidents, $1 for residents 55 and over, $2 for nonresidents 55 and older and free for children age 3 and under. Dis counted individual and family passes are also available. The pool is open daily from May 23 to Aug. 9 and on weekends only from Aug. 10 to Sept. 26. willspark.com

CUMMING CUMMING AQUATIC CENTER A state-of-the-art facility, the Cumming Aquatic Center opened in 2011. In addition to its indoor competition pool with three springboards, the center hosts an outdoor water park with a Mountain Park Aquatic Center Splash Pool play zone, water slide and a current channel. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for youth and seniors; separate admis sion is required for each daily session at the outdoor leisure pool. The indoor pool is open Piedmont Park Aquatic Center year-round, the outdoor pool opens in early May for single weekend sessions and for daily sessions from Memorial Day to Labor Day with reduced hours starting in early August. cummingaquaticcenter.com

GWINNETT MOUNTAIN PARK AQUATIC CENTER Located in Stone Mountain, the Mountain Park Aquatic Center boasts features normally found in major waterparks, with zero-depth entry; towering, winding water slides, a play zone, bubble bench and the Lazy River, a meander ing current channel. There are also indoor lap and instructional pools. Daily individual admission fees are $5.50 for Gwinnett County residents ages 11-49, $4.25 for ages 4-10 and $3.25 for ages 3 and under and 50 and above. Higher rates apply for non-residents. Dis counted rates for any Gwinnett aquatic facility are available with the purchase of an individu al or family FUNCARD. The indoor pools are open daily year round; the leisure pool is open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day with reduced hours starting Aug. 3. gwinnettparks.com

MIDTOWN ATLANTA PIEDMONT PARK AQUATIC CENTER Originally built in 1911, the current aquatic center opened in 2009 as part of a $41 million park renovation project. The Greystone bath house is a 9,000-square-foot LEEDcertified facility that includes event space as well as lockers, showers and concessions. The picturesque ADA-accessible pool features

a beach entry, a current channel for floating, four lap lanes and a landscaped deck with lounge chairs.

The center is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Adult swim periods take place for 15 minutes every hour. Admission is $5 per person; season passes are available for individuals, seniors and families that grant discounted prices and extended hours. This is one of the city’s busiest

Swim meet at Roswell Park Olympic-size pool

pools, so be prepared for crowds at peak times.

The Legacy Fountain splash pad near the north end of the park features more than 70 jets and LED lighting; admission is free and restrooms and tables and chairs are located nearby. piedmontpark.org

PEACHTREE CITY KEDRON FIELDHOUSE AND AQUATIC CENTER The aquatic center at the multipurpose Kedron Fieldhouse and Aquatic Center facility offers a heated instructional pool and a 25-yard competitive pool. Both are covered in winter months to allow for year-round swimming. Admission for Fayette County residents is $5 with child and senior citizen discounts and $6 for adults; a number of different season passes are available with discounted rates. The center maintains a schedule of open and senior citi zen swim times; it’s best to check the schedule posted at peachtree-city.org/openswim or call 770-631-2525 for current hours.

ROSWELL ROSWELL AREA PARK POOL The Roswell Area Park Pool offers something for everyone in the family, with an eightlane, 50-meter, Olympic-size pool, a diving well with two springboards and a separate children’s wading pool with a waterfall. Special programs include aquatic exercise camps, paddleboard yoga and pool parties. The pool is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day with reduced hours beginning in early August; daily pool rates are $3 for Roswell residents, $5 for non-residents and free for children under age 2. ADULT AQUATICS CENTER Open for seniors since 2016 at the city’s Adult Recreation Center, the Adult Aquatics Center recently opened to all adults age 25 and older. The indoor facility offers a five-lane, warmwater therapeutic pool with zero-depth entry, a therapeutic whirlpool and shower and locker facilities. The center is open Monday through Saturday year round; fees are $6 for residents, $9 for non-residents with discount member ships and passes for both classes and open swim sessions. roswellgov.ga

Whether you’re looking for some competitive racing and diving or just a splash on a hot day, you’re sure to enjoy the many opportunities for swimming that Atlanta has to offer. With the wide array of facilities and organized teams, we’ve definitely gone the old swimming hole one better.