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(Des Moines, IA) -- As summer comes to a close and kids head back to school, Des Moines Metro Aquatic Centers are preparing to close their gates for the season and begin getting ready for the 2026 reopening.
"Valley View is now 22 years old, Holiday is 21 years old, just stuff to make sure they are still running well and maintained well. Nothing sexy, I'd say. Mostly stuff to just make sure the backbones of the pool are still in good shape," said Trevor Hoth, Recreation Facility and Program Supervisor at West Des Moines Parks and Recreation.
Several metro area aquatic centers have already closed for the season, but the rest are remaining open through the Labor Day weekend. Even then a few pools are closing a bit earlier this year, despite some record-high attendance.
Hoth says this is to accommodate staff schedules, as most employees are college or high school students heading back to school. He adds that early closures help ensure proper maintenance and allow teams to prepare for next year’s operations.