LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WOIO) – The Lakewood Recreation Department announced Friday that it will restrict non-resident day passes at Becks Pool and Foster Pool.
The announcement comes as the recent heat wave continues to push temperatures into the 90s.
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According to a post on Facebook, the Foster Pool reached capacity on multiple occasions and that resulted in swimmers being turned away.
Tete Coleman of Cleveland says her family loves the pool and new slide at the Foster Pool, but doesn’t agree with the restrictions, “I really don’t think it’s fair. If everybody is having a good time and they’re already charging you to get in, I don’t think that’s fair at all.”
Mina Smith of North Royalton told 19 News, “I don’t think it’s fair, we’re from North Royalton and our pool is currently closed due to maintenance. So, we’re just trying to find somewhere to bring our kids.”
But a Lakewood mother of three who asked not to be identified says, the restrictions help make it fair for Lakewood residents and taxpayers, “I have a season pass and I can’t even get in to use it, the line was so long. We are mostly like families and children here in Lakewood and we pay $6,000 to $10,000 a year in property taxes to live here.
The Lakewood Recreation Department cited safety and overcrowding issues as reasoning behind the admissions update.
Starting June 23, any non-resident must be accompanied by a Lakewood resident “on a one-to-one basis,” according to the post.
Day pass admissions will now require one of the following as proof of residency:
Driver’s License or State Issued ID
Utility bill from current year
School ID
Report card (can be downloaded from Progressbook through June 30)
Existing season passes to Lakewood’s pools will be accepted and residency documentation is not required.
