Arlington resident Shannon G., 61, swims in the lap pool Oct. 1 at the ACTIV Center in Arlington. Shannon G. said that she comes to swim four or five times a week.
Arlington resident Clo Brown said she loves spending time inside the vortex — the fast-moving section of the ACTIV Center’s wellness pool where water spins in one direction.
“I feel like a 5-year-old on a merry-go-round,” Brown, 83, said. “I love that.”
Brown is one of hundreds of Arlington residents 50 and over enjoying the new natatorium at the ACTIV Center on West Green Oaks Boulevard, which officially opened Sept. 15. The area, located at the center’s south entrance, features a four-lane indoor lap pool and an indoor hydrotherapy pool designed for wellness and recreation.
While the ACTIV Center welcomed residents in March, construction delays pushed the natatorium’s opening to September. Chris Hayden, ACTIV’s aquatics program coordinator, said members have complimented the pools.
Residents sit in a jetted pool Oct. 1 at the ACTIV Center in Arlington. The pools have controlled temperatures.
“They absolutely love the water temperature, the aspect that they can go in and do river walking whenever they want and get kind of their own independent therapy,” Hayden said.
The 44,000-gallon wellness pool stays around 88 degrees and reaches four feet deep at the front, Hayden said, allowing residents to exercise independently using tools for the arms, legs or back or to stretch.
Dumbbells in hands and a foam noodle between her knees, Brown pedaled clockwise through the three-and-a-half-foot-deep river walk section of the pool.
“That really helps strengthen my arms,” she said.
Brown said she likes exercising in the pool as she can bump into people and make new friends.
Arlington resident Clo Brown, 83, swims in the wellness pool Oct. 1 at the ACTIV Center in Arlington. Brown said she likes exercising in the pool.
As she pedaled around the river walk, Brown stopped to chat with Arlington residents Virginia and Randal Hudson, who walked counterclockwise.
“The resistance gives an added value, and it’s easier on our joints,” Virginia Hudson said.
The 68,000-gallon lap pool is sloped for aerobics and stays at 84 degrees, Hayden said. Each lane gets deeper, ranging from 3 1/2 feet to almost five.
Arlington resident Leslie Espinosa, 68, sits under a waterfall of the wellness pool Oct. 1 at the ACTIV Center in Arlington. Espinosa said it was her first time at the pool.
The staff tests the water temperature regularly and checks chemical levels every two hours, he said. A QR code at the pools allows members to view live updates on chemical levels and temperatures, and at least four lifeguards are on staff at any point.
ACTIV is one of the city’s largest recreation centers. Voters approved partial funding for the $64 million center in a special bond election in May 2017.
In the outer lap pool lane, Arlington resident Victor Purnell paused his swim to chat with lifeguards. A former lifeguard of nearly 30 years, Purnell said he typically lifts weights before swimming and, if he has energy left, finishes with a basketball session — all at the ACTIV Center.
“I love to see my taxpayer money at work,” Purnell said, adding that he swims at ACTIV at least three days a week.
Starting Oct. 1, ACTIV began offering six classes, including water aerobics, aqua Zumba and private lessons. Classes are free for gold-tier members. Those with blue and green memberships can use the pool to swim laps or for independent exercise at no cost and can attend classes for an additional fee, Hayden said.
The ACTIV Center opened a natatorium including two pools Sept. 15 in Arlington. ACTIV features a lap pool and a hydrotherapy pool.
Brown said she would have liked to join a class, but the one she wanted was already full. And the early morning options didn’t sound appealing to her.
“When you get my age, you don’t do early,” she said, chuckling.
Instead, Brown stuck to her own routine, pedaling around the river walk for more than an hour a day, four days a week.
As her chats wrapped up, Brown refocused and began pedaling again. She still had 15 minutes left in her workout.
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