J. Gregory Gerdel
MONTPELIER — Since the dedication ceremony at Montpelier’s Municipal Field on Nov. 16, 1939, the Montpelier swimming pool has been a recreational resource for generations of swimmers.
This year, prior to the official opening of the pool for the 2026 summer season on June 20, a major clean-up/update effort for the pool grounds, play area, and changing rooms has been recruiting community volunteers to support the Recreation Department’s annual preparations. The clean-up efforts will continue through Saturday, June 6. Volunteers can sign up at forms.cloud.microsoft/g/XxbyQFFU24
Kate Nicolet, who volunteered with her husband Nicholas and their son, eighth-grader Rocco, helped with painting the pool house, where they worked alongside Mayor Marc Gwinn.
“It feels good to have donated a couple hours to help the city get the pool ready for the summer season,” she said. The Nicolets are longtime passholders at the pool.
Repainting of the pool bottom itself is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, according to Arnie McMullen, recreation department director.
Despite several erroneous AI reports that the pool has been “upgraded” to the more modern rectangular configuration of the Olympic standard, the Montpelier pool retains its New Deal-financed, bowl-shaped oval, with a diving platform in the middle and a raft. One of the virtues of the pool’s design is that the gradual, almost beach-like descent to deeper water allows toddlers and beginners to submerge gradually rather than take a too-abrupt plunge into deep water; and for parents and lifeguards to keep an eye on them.
Access to the deep end of the pool requires passing the Raft Test, which consists of swimming one length (raft to raft), a jump off the raft, and two minutes treading water.
“The swimming must be a proficient front crawl in which the swimmer successfully brings their arms fully out of the water and extends them forward with minimal splashing,” according to a poster that details pool rules.
The 7-to-8-a.m. lap swim continues Monday through Friday, as does the 4:30-to-7-p.m. family swim. Swimming lessons and classes are also available.
Information about pool operating hours, purchasing pool passes, and other details can be found at the Recreation Department or the Montpelier Senior Activity Center, both on Barre Street, or go to montpelier-vt.org/1366/Montpelier-City-Pool
John Lazenby contributed to this story.
