By Nita McCann

NATCHEZ — The swimming pool at the Natchez Senior Citizens’ Multi-Purpose Center is a public pool, open to people and groups regardless of age, Maxine McAndrews said.

McAndrews is the swimming coordinator at the pool, which is located in the basement of the center and is open every day except Saturday.

However, a flier, which provides pool hours and is available at the center’s front desk, reads otherwise.

A clause on the flier states “guests are not permitted unless they are senior citizens or have a doctor’s recommendation” is close to the top of the flier with a warning that “proof of age may be required.”

That is not the case any longer, McAndrews said. “I didn’t know that (language) was still on there. The pool is for everyone.”

In addition to the Senior Citizens’ Multipurpose Center pool, the City of Natchez had a pool at Duncan Park until it closed in 1994, Since then, aldermen have repeatedly discussed the need for a pool to take its place. That would be part of a bigger recreation complex, according to city and county officials.

The Senior Center pool was built in 1913 as part of Carpenter School but closed in 1950 due to a polio epidemic. It reopened in the early 1980s.

As it now stands, swimming lessons and senior citizens’ exercise classes make the pool their home.

“The pool serves anywhere from 75 to 110 people a day (in exercise classes),” McAndrews said.

The pool does not have lifeguards on duty.

“If a group wants to use the pool, all they have to do is have at least 12 people and give me a call, and we’ll find a slot for them in our schedule,” she added.

The pool hosts open swimming from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday; from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m.; and from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Exercise classes such as water aerobics take place from 8:20 to 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

A faster water aerobics class is held from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The class costs $25 per month.

Senior citizens are charged $4 per session or $33 a month, or $55 per month for couples.

Lap swimming is from 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Wednesday; 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The cost is $35 per month.

McAndrews can be reached at (601) 445-0381.