New Webber Natural Swimming Pool opens today!

New Webber Natural Swimming Pool opens today

The first public pool in North America to use a natural filtration system opens at 1 pm today

Today the public will get its first chance to enjoy the much anticipated Webber Natural Swimming Pool. The pool, located at 4300 Weber Parkway, will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 1-7 pm through Labor Day weekend, including Monday, September 5.

There’s no charge to swim in the chemical-free pool. No outside food or beverage is allowed, but The Brickyard Pizzeria food truck will be parked outside the pool’s entrance this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Kona Ice food truck will be serving up snow cones on Friday as well. For future updates and more information please visit minneapolispark.org/webberpool

 

Open House

On Wednesday, July 22 more than 100 excited community members took the opportunity to tour the pool during an open house hosted by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. People had a chance to see the pool up close and learn more about its innovative filtration system from Park Board staff.

Another open house will be held July 30 4-6:30 pm. Afterward attendees are encouraged to stick around for a free family concert put on by the Minnesota Sinfonia with special guest Maria Jette.

 

2015 Lap Swimming and Swim Lessons

In addition to free admission and open swimming, there will be fee-based programs offered at noon starting July 31. Registration is available at recreation centers, the pool house, or www.minneapolisparks.org/register.

• Lap swimming – 12-1 pm, Friday-Sunday. $3 per day or $24 for a ten-visit punch pass.Swim lesson session – 12-12:40 pm, Friday-Saturday, eight lessons, four weeks, July 31-Aug 21. $50 resident and $60 non-resident (scholarships available).
•  Swim lesson session – 12-12:40 pm, Friday-Saturday, eight lessons, four weeks, July 31-Aug 21. $50 resident and $60 non-resident (scholarships available).
  
  

Keep it Clean, Keep it Open

The Webber pool is the first public pool in North America that does not use chemicals to keep its water clean. Instead, water is pumped from the pool through a system of biological filters and into an adjacent regeneration basin. In the regeneration basin, layers of gravel and approximately 7,000 aquatic plants help cleanse the water before it’s pumped back into the pool. All of the pool’s 500,000 gallons of water circulates through this process every 12 hours.

This unique water management system is more sensitive than a traditional, chemically treated pool and will require cooperation from the public to stay open. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board would like to remind the public the following items will not be allowed on pool grounds:

• Outside food or beverages
• Tobacco
• Pets
• Glass items

Swimmers must wear designated swim wear. Clothing not allowed in the pool includes:

• Basketball shorts
• Outside shoes and sandals
• Colored cotton shirts or shorts
• Underwear
• Jeans, cut-offs or anything denim
• Corduroy
• Leather

 

Swimmers are asked to wear swimwear with lining. Fabrics allowed include nylon, silicone, latex, Lycra and polyesters. Toddlers and babies must wear swim diapers, which will be available for purchase for $2.

 

For more information about Webber Natural Swimming Pool please visit minneapolisparks.org/webberpool.