Swimming lessons overbooked

DAVENPORT - First-session swimming lessons at Davenport Water Park are full, so the city is accepting registrations for a second session.

Roughly 4-5 children were turned down for lessons in the first session as class sizes were too full, city officials said.

"It's just like the world woke up all of a sudden and everyone wants lessons," City Clerk Dave Leath said Monday. "We got almost everyone in. But the class sizes are just so big we have to have three people (instructors) in the water."

Second-session lessons runs from Monday, July 24, to Friday, Aug. 4; registration forms are available at Davenport City Hall, 411 Morgan St.

"We have a couple of openings and a couple of sessions for Session II," he said. "If somebody wants to get in, we try to help."

The swimming lesson program is managed according to Red Cross standards, and Red Cross-certified lifeguards maintain the safety of swimmers.

This year, more families from outside of Davenport are registering youth for lessons, Leath said, noting lessons are led by long-time sister instructors Kyra Bodeau and Haley Arland, both of Davenport.

"We have two girls, and we have pretty good success every year," Leath said. "Kyra is a Davenport Elementary School teacher, who has taught swim lessons for nearly 10 years. Haley is in college but has taught for eight years.

"It's not just Kyra and Haley that do a great job, all the lifeguards do."

The pool maintains regular hours despite having swim lessons daily.

With Pioneer Days, the pool is expected to see a spike in attendance as the Belly Flop Contest draws many spectators.

The pool open is open 1-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sundays.

"The pool opened roughly 13 years ago," Leath said. "One of the largest contributors to the pool was Claire Van Buren, and she gave a sizable donation because when she was a kid, her sister drowned in the river. She wanted to make sure all the kids in the area had the chance to get swim lessons.

"That has been the mission of the Parks and Rec department and for us here at City Hall."