.
The early swimming season wet weather hasn’t dampened enthusiasm for getting all wet at area pools. While the Onalaska and Holmen Aquatic Centers had about 10 percent of their normal opening-day traffic, sales of season passes are encouraging.
“With the weather (opening day), we didn’t have a good opening,” said Dan Wick, Onalaska parks and recreation director. “But overall, our season passes are above what we’ve been at in the past, so I’m encouraged. We’ve sold more season passes to date. I’m happy to have those numbers.”
According to Mike Brogan, Holmen parks and recreation director, despite the weather, there were about 84 die-hards out for opening day there. “Normally we would have 600-700,” he said. “The first two or three weeks are the busiest of the season.”
Brogan said season passes are selling at about the same pace as last year with 180 memberships. “Usually once we hit those 90 degree sunny days, more people sign up,” he said.
Currently, the Holmen Area Aquatic Center gets about 250 people per day for open swim and about 500 people for other programs throughout the day.
Neither Onalaska nor Holmen aquatic centers are experiencing any problems staffing the pools with lifeguards. “We are fully staffed,” Wick said. “We had less applicants for the positions, but we had a lot of returning staff.”
Brogan agreed. “We are not having problems,” he said. “We have a great veteran staff and a good mix of new people.”
Both were hoping for the weather to cooperate.
.
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
