Fort Smith (July 21/03) - Staff at the William Schaefer Memorial Pool in Fort Smith are gearing up for a party to celebrate its 25th anniversary next week.

While celebrations have been going on all summer, pool manager Janie Hobart says the July 31 shindig will be the biggest event of the year.

"We're hoping to have at least 250 people there," said Hobart. "It's going to be a nice party."

A number of activities are planned coinciding with the silver anniversary. Hobart said kids will have a chance to shoot 25 rubber ducks with a water gun and dive to retrieve 25 golf balls from the bottom of the pool.

Hobart also issued an open call to all former staff members and swimmers who have enjoyed the facilities over the last quarter century.

"We're hoping to hear from a lot of the people who may not be in the town any more and those who haven't been at the pool in a while," she said.

Hobart hopes they can help her piece together a history of the pool.

"For many years, the pool has been a central part of the community" said Hobart. "I hope we can present some of that history in a slide show or something like that."

The pool was the first hybrid facility of its type in the NWT with one section below ground and the other above. That created an eight-foot deep end, unheard of 25 years ago in the territories. It also offered the first Lifesaving Distinction Exam in the NWT and won the Recreation and Parks Facility Excellence Award in 2001.

Hobart said over the years, the pool has become more than just a place to swim a few laps.

"Swimming is one of the few family recreation activities around. It's something everyone can do together without spending a lot of money."

The pool has remained popular during its 25 years. Last year attendance topped 15,000 and Hobart says an average 200 people take advantage of nightly swims.