HOBART | Ray Verduzco lives in Beverly Shores and has to pay a little extra for himself and his two grandchildren to cool off at the city's pool.

The time spent swimming and then grabbing a snack with grandchildren Miguel Streeter, 7, and Jennifer Streeter, 9, is priceless, he said of the pool off Wisconsin and 10th streets.

"For one thing, the price is right," Verduzco said.

Pool manager Dawn Alvarez agrees.

"It's very affordable," she said.

She said a family of four could stay all day at the pool, eat their fill of hot dogs and ice cream and spend only around $20.

The cost is half that much for a family of two, she said.

Attendance at the pool, which opened for a full season this year, has averaged 150 to 200 people now that the days have gotten warmer.

On a recent, unseasonably warm day this past week, attendance shot up to 250, she said.

"We've had some great days," she said.

The new splash pad, which was installed last year, has also proven to be a hit with the toddler set and a little older.

"It's small enough for the real little kids but the big kids love it, too," she said.

Alvarez said it's difficult for her to compare last year's attendance with this year's since the pool wasn't open a full season last year.

The Park Board at its February meeting questioned whether it would be able to afford keeping the pool open a full season this year.

But Mayor Brian Snedecor at that meeting argued that after the city spent $123,000 in repairs in 2007 it would be problematic not to open it.

The pool so far has kept afloat in its expenditures through the early sale of seasonal pool passes and donations from businesses like WiseWay.

"We're OK," Alvarez said of the pool's operating status.

That news is good news for Hobart residents like Law Cupka, who uses the pool almost every day.

Cupka, who is disabled, uses the handicapped accessible pool to get out of his wheelchair and exercise his legs on a daily basis.

"He swims like a fish," Alvarez said.

Cupka said for him the 46-year-old pool is a community fixture that needs to be retained so families in the future can continue to enjoy it.

"I've been coming here since I was 5 years old. It's a nice summer retreat," he said.

BREAKOUT

Pool fees

Daily attendance is $3 for residents and $6 for nonresidents; 4 years and younger: $1 for residents and $2 for nonresidents.

The pool and the nearby picnic area can also be reserved and used for parties and get-togethers.

Call the park department at (219) 942-2987 for information.