From the Patagonia Regional Aquatics Center:
Spring is in the air…and the Patagonia Regional Aquatics Center (PRAC) volunteers have been busy maintaining the pool and planning for 2026, since the pool closed in November for the winter.
The work to keep our beloved pool running never stops. Fundraising appeals, grant writing, our famous yard sales and of course, caring for the pool itself — scrubbing, vacuuming, equipment maintenance. It all continues day in and out, around the calendar by our all-volunteer-run non-profit.
A 2026 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between PRAC and Patagonia Schools laying out each party’s responsibilities for pool management and funding is approved and signed. A contract for lifeguard services with our excellent partner from last year, Euvori Aquatics, is in the final stages and we are finalizing our schedule to begin the Spring season (tentatively opening mid-April, hopefully a fun event in March, stay tuned).
The days and hours we’ll be able to be open in 2026 depends entirely on how much funding we can raise. Having taken on full responsibility for both funding and managing the pool for the first time last year, we now know that maintaining the 2025 schedule (open 6 days a week June and July and 3 days a week the other months) will cost $100,000 to operate the pool from mid-April through mid-November.
In 2025, the Town of Patagonia contributed approximately 3.5% of the budget, leaving the great majority of the funds to be secured through donations, grants, events and user fees. Between all of those sources, we raised the needed funds to operate the pool and carry a small amount forward into 2026. The PRAC board thanks all who contributed.
PRAC relies heavily on Volunteers. Our Board is all-volunteer. Critically, every day the pool is open, volunteers must arrive an hour early, check and adjust chemicals, make sure the pool and surroundings are clean and safe and that all equipment is set up and functioning properly, then repeat or reverse many of these steps at closure. If we do not have enough volunteers to do this, the pool cannot open that day.
We’d love to have paid positions for some of these tasks but with the proposed schedule, the budget does not allow a paid position at this time.
So help us out if you can. Volunteer to assist with opening and closing, or with grant writing or fundraising. Presently, we keep the pool free to children 12 and under and affordable for everyone else. Email us at patagoniapool1@gmail.com or visit our website at www.patagoniapool.org to volunteer or donate and our Patagonia Regional Aquatics Center Facebook page to check on opening dates, schedules and special events.
The pool is clean and beautiful and the water is heated during the cooler months. The volunteers are working hard to bring you another wonderful year of Open Swim, Lap Swim, Water Aerobics and community fun.
Please come join us.