Opening Day at Galimore Community Pool

Historic City News reporters joined local officials and happy St Augustine residents Friday for free hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks to celebrate Opening Day at the Willie Galimore Center Community Pool.

For the third year, thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, swimming is free at the Galimore Pool all summer long. Peter Racine with the Jaguars organization, speaking for the NFL team-members, the Kahn family, and the Foundation, presented St Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver with a donation check of $15,000.

To mark the 2015 summer schedule at the Willie Galimore Center Community Pool, the city hosted a cookout that was free to the public. Darnell Smith, North Florida market President for Florida Blue, was on hand to show his organization’s support for the health and life-saving programs that will be available this year. Culinary expertise was provided by Fire Chief James “J. C.” Costeira and the firemen and women of the St Augustine Fire Department.

The regular schedule, managed by the St. Augustine Family YMCA, will include open swim times every day and times for lap swimmers only. The Galimore Pool is part of the Willie Galimore Community Center at 399 Riberia Street in Lincolnville. It is open every day of the week, features lap lanes, a swim instructional area, locker rooms and showers, and ADA standards featuring handicap pool lift.

Now in its third summer of operation, the Galimore Pool has proven to be one of the community’s most popular summer gathering spots for families and friends.

The pool’s summer long season starts each year on Friday of Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day, September 7. This year the mayor was joined by members of the community, rather than City Manager John Regan, for the ceremonial “first jump” into the pool.

For information regarding the operation of the Galimore Community Pool, contact the St. Augustine Family YMCA at 904.471.9622.