Picerne residents make splash in new saltwater pools

By Jada Salahuddin
Picerne

June 30, 2011

	Photo by Jane Helmick/Picerne Specialist Jasen Toomey and his wife Samantha enjoy a day at Picerne Military Housing’s Hammond Hills pool with their sons Maddison, 18 months, and Jacob, 4. “It’s not as harsh on your skin,” Samantha Toomey said of the pool, which was recently converted to a saltwater chlorination system.

A taste of the ocean has made its way to Fort Bragg. On-post families now have the option to swim in salt water. Picerne Military Housing now offers salt water pools at the Hammond Hills Neighborhood Center and The Clubhouse at Linden Oaks.

Combined, the new pools have nearly 17,000 visits recorded since their Memorial Day weekend opening, according to Bettie Lou Norman, Picerne Aquatics Program Manager.

Although the differences between the chlorine pools and the salt water pools are minimal, some residents have noticed a change in their swimming experiences.

“It feels softer on my skin and softer on my eyes,” five-year-old Aubrey Brown, daughter of Nijmegen resident Michelle Brown, said.

“Us blonde people don’t have green hair”, Cherrie Mooers, Hammond Hills resident said.

The salt water pools have allowed families to enjoy a more comfortable swim.

“The salt water system is not only beneficial for our residents, but for the earth too”, Norman said. “It is still chlorine, but it is chlorine that is generated through salt. It is a more natural method and requires less maintenance.”

Pool safety remains a top priority for Picerne. Lifeguards are on duty around the clock, constantly watching all swimmers, making sure all rules are followed, and tending to any required pool maintenance. 

Whether on-post families want to take a swim in a traditional pool or swim in salt water, all nine Neighborhood Center pools are open seven days a week. For access to any of the pools, residents must provide a military I.D. and a Picerne pool pass. For a pool schedule, visit http://braggpicerne.com/pool.html 

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