Lark

Lark. to enjoy oneself by behaving in a playful way. Many memorable events and activities have taken place at the Big Pool, Excitement , Many promotional events and activities have been hosted by the Big Pool over the years. Most memorably, for several years, the pool hosted the zoo's elephants for a special swim at the end of summer. On the Saturday before Labor Day and for a week following, Moki and Chana would walk from the zoo next door for a frolic in the pool. Crowds came from as far away as California to see the elephants, as thousands of people packed into the pool area to glimpse the spectacle., The elephants were relocated to Florida in 2004, and an elephant slide was purchased to commemorate the yearly visit. That slide remains today at the entry to the aquatic center., The pool also hosted several other recreational activities besides swimming. In the early years, the pool water was left to freeze over the winter and ice skating was popular. Unfortunately, the freeze and thaw of ice in the pool caused small cracks in the concrete shell and the pool was drained every fall in subsequent years. A band shell was also once located at the pool, and swimmers were treated to live music concerts as they swam in the evenings., Promotional stunts also brought many visitors to the “Big Dipper” over the years. Water skiing, windsurfing, and synchronized swimming performances have taken place in the pool, as well as boat jousting tournaments and bathtub races. The Big Pool has even hosted Miss Garden City, and submarines practiced at the facility during World War II!, Mary Owens , Mary Owens was an important part of Big Pool's history and success. As pool manager for many years, she oversaw thousands of visitors to the pool over her years of working but never actually swam in the pool herself, Mary felt optimistic about the pool's future. “I hope it's here for a long time after all of us are gone.”