Our View: Return of city beach is a welcome sight

After a summer season where The Beach at Pinehurst Park sat empty and unused due to the pandemic, we are excited to see leaders are opening the pool this summer. It’s a sign that things may be getting back to normal, and we couldn’t be happier.

Yes, the pool opens Monday, June 14. It’s quite a gem, one of the few sand-bottomed swimming ponds left in the state. The city-owned pool in the heart of Cloquet is slightly chlorinated for hygiene and fully staffed with lifeguards for safety and security. Although the textured “sand” is more gravelly than silky smooth, it’s still plenty of fun for kids and families to play on the beach and swim. Most of the pool is zero-entry, which gives you a lake-type experience. There are also deeper areas with swim lanes.

It’s owned by the city but managed by Community Education, paid by the city. Community Ed director Erin Bates advised us to get a season pass at a discounted rate of $79, which jumps to $99 after the pool opens. “And don’t worry about losing the pass: we keep them at the front desk and identify you as you come in. So you can’t lose it, which makes it easier to enjoy the pool more often,” Bates told us. Day passes are available for $4 per person, which is reasonable considering the number of out-of-towners who use the pool. “We priced it so it’s more affordable for locals, who often use the pool more frequently, during ‘staycations’ and the like,” Bates said, adding that she’s excited to see The Beach open again.

Recalling the debate and community petitions that resulted in the current version of the swimming pond, we’d like to thank the city for providing this service for our residents and anyone else who wants to cool off on a hot summer day.

We have very little to add, except a personal wish list. We’d like finer sand, but understand it could clog the filters. And we also wish the pool opened before noon for serious swimmers and stayed open later on weekends (it closes at 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays). Finally, it would be nice if staff could adapt during inclement weather: sometimes it’s raining at noon and the pool is closed, but it clears up by 2 p.m. and the pool should reopen. We hope some of these things might be addressed this summer.

Meanwhile, see you at The Beach.