Life Time Fitness diversifies summer swimming options
As the mercury rises, residents are gearing up for a season’s worth of poolside fun. This year, options have grown, most notably with last month’s opening of Life Time Fitness.
Favorite, long-standing options like Wald Park are also preparing for another summer season. While the Birmingham Swim League has made good use of Vestavia’s own Wald Park aquatics facility during the fall and winter, Parks and Recreation Director Jason Burnett and staff have kept busy hiring and training their summer staffers.
“Our goal each year is to get 2,000 members, and we usually come close to that,” he said. “Popular draws include a friendly staff, our inexpensive membership fees and a great location.”
Amy Parker concurs with these attributes, which is why she’s keeping Wald Park as a trusted default choice if Life Time Fitness doesn’t meet her expectations.
“We are giving Life Time a go; it seems like a lot of people are. The main reasons [we joined] are the pool, the fact that they offer childcare and that there is no contract,” said Parker. “If it’s nuts, we will switch back to old faithful Wald Park!”
Both facilities offer ample options for area families to enjoy poolside recreation.
Wald Park accommodates young swimmers with its training and wading pools, while also providing a large, lap-style pool, with two dedicated lap lanes.
Life Time’s pools include extensive indoor and outdoor layouts. The indoor structure features both a lap pool with four 25-yard lap lanes, and a leisure pool with a zero-depth ramp entry. The depth varies from three to four feet in both pools, and the water is heated to 80 and 88 degrees, respectively.
The outdoor pool design includes another leisure pool with zero-depth ramp entry, and also two water slides that are two stories tall. The pool also features six 25-yard lap lanes. Depth varies from zero to five feet, and the water is a balmy 82 degrees.
Life Time also offers two indoor whirlpools and one outdoor whirlpool.
“[Life Time] is the perfect outlet for us,” said Coventry resident and mother of two Ivy Holmes. “The indoor and outdoor pools were very appealing, as well as affordable swimming lessons for Daniel. Both of my kids enjoyed swimming year-round when we lived in Fairhope. I firmly believe that working on a skill like swimming is something that needs to be practiced year round, not just in the summer months.”
The key differentiator between the two facilities comes down to choice. For those seeking an aquatic destination only, Wald Park is a logical option. For those seeking a more comprehensive recreational outlet, Life Time Fitness is worth a closer look. Life Time offers its members a total of 75 classes per week, made up of 27 unique class formats.
Vestavia Pool Options
Pools highlighted are within Vestavia Hills city limits and available for public use.
Life Time Fitness
Outdoor pool open May 26 - Sept. 3
547-3100
Rates: No contracts. Rates start at $83 per month for single membership and increase based the on number of users in family.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Extra Services
Pools with water slides
Swim lessons for both adults and children
Wald Park Pool
Open May 26 – Sept. 3
978-0172
Rates: Badges go on sale May 1. $50 for Vestavia Hills residents, $25 for seniors (age 62 and older), $5 guest day pass. Non-residents’ membership badges are doubled.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6:50 p.m.
Thursday, 7-8:50 p.m. (Family Swim)
Sunday, 2-6:50 p.m.
Extra Services
Private swimming lessons for adults and children; group lessons also available
Pool rental
YMCA-Vestavia
823-0144
Rates: Individuals $50 to join, $45 monthly. Family rates available.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 5:15 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Friday, 5:15 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Extra Services
Private and semi-private swim lessons for adults and children. Group lessons also available.
Swim team. $95 registration fee