Water Safety at the Dow Park Pool

Picture this...1978...May...Memorial Day Weekend: the grand opening of the Dow Park Pool, one of Deer Park’s greatest amenities and summer attractions. FortyFive years since its introduction, the Dow Park Pool has remained a vital characteristic of Parks and Recreation. Bathrooms and showers, life vests, diving boards (since replaced with water slides), swim lessons, lap lanes, life guards, a splash pad, a kiddie pool, pool pavilions, lounging chairs, picnic tables, dive-In movies, and fishing adventures –our Dow Park Pool has had it all.

This is where we have grown up, and this is where our children grow up too. To share memories together at the Dow Pool, and reflect on the ones we made when we were younger, is such an amazing experience for us to have. It has grown before our eyes and becomes more loved every year.

Debra Culp, current Supervisor of Athletics and Aquatics at Deer Park Parks and Recreation, hasn’t always been a lover of water, but it was the Dow Park Pool and her role of a Camp Crabgrass counselor that lead her to be so immersed into the safety and enjoyment of water fun.

She reflects on her growth beginning with a story from when she was young. She says, “When I was 4, my family was spending the day at the beach in Galveston. I was floating in the Gulf of Mexico on an air mattress with my dad enjoying the water. We didn’t realize how far we went out when we hit a massive wave launching me into the ocean. My dad frantically looked for me while also struggling to stay above water. When he finally found me, he rushed me back to shore. Since that moment, I have never liked water. My parents immediately enrolled me into swim lessons but I was never really good at it. I always relied on my height to stand in water and never went into the deep end.

When I started working for the City of Deer Park in 2002, my first summer as a Camp Crabgrass leader, we would swim at the Dow Park Pool 4 days a week. I was constantly on edge, always trying to count heads and making sure they were above the surface. Being responsible for children at the pool, some of which didn’t know how to swim, made me realize I needed to be better prepared around water. I finally learned how to swim and helped implement safety procedures for the pool and water parks for Deer Park camps.

In 2005, I had the privilege of joining the Aquatics team on a parttime basis. For the next 18 years, I immersed myself in Water Safety and Aquatic education. Every year, we were able to add more and more safety features to the facility. Everything from signage to more trainings for staff, and adding lifejackets to our facilityfree for use. Every decision that is made, we always have safety in mind for the staff and patrons. on to stand in water and never went

In 2016, we partnered with Jeff Ellis and Associates and took our services to the next level. Being an Ellis and Associates facility, holds our lifeguards to a high training and high professional standard and are expected to maintain vigilance at all times to ensure guest safety.”

Since 2019, Deer Park Parks and Recreation has received the Platinum Safety Award every year, for four years, from Jeff Ellis and Associates for our service in implementing safe practices. This award is only given to the top 10% of the safest facilities in the world. Our facility must obtain the following criteria for this award: ALL Overall Audit scores were found to Exceed Industry Standards and the Standards of the Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program and 95% or higher of all Lifeguard Observations, Supervisor Observations, and VAT® Observations Exceeded the E&A Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program Standards.

Being a lifeguard is no easy job. It requires extensive training, high focus and resilience, and an aptitude for ensuring all patrons remain safe during their fun. Deer Park Lifeguard Abby Moore

It demands your full attention at all times. I have been a lifeguard for 5 years at the Dow Park Pool and have learned about safety and the importance of working as a team. The great teamwork at the pool has allowed us, not only to be successful lifeguards and have a safe facility, but to also have fun and enjoyable summers! I love being a lifeguard, helping out my community, and working for the City of Deer Park!”

Just like Abby, all our lifeguards care deeply about our community and all that occurs at the Dow Park Pool. Our Aquatics staff works tirelessly to ensure you and your family can swim safely. In 2022,

with 5518 in attendance for the 70 days our pool was open, our staff had 98 rescues – all of them being active rescues with 97 of them taking place in the 5-7 feet deep section of the water slide (1 being in the 3-5 feet area). Our 31 lifeguards trained for the summer did an amazing job guaranteeing the safety of your families. Accidents happen, and when they do, our staff is ready to help you with no hesitation.

Come on out this summer and spend your summer days with our phenomenal lifeguards. Opening day is May 27 th , starting at Noon.