ASTANA – A swimming area featuring three separate pools of various lengths and depths for family enjoyment opened in early July in the capital’s central park.
Serik Uaissov, 26, brought his whole family for an afternoon of splashing in the water.
“I knew a long time ago that the pool would open and finally it has opened and this is great news for [those of] us who live in the capital,” he said. “I have a small business and work and life in Astana can be tiresome. I often dream about going swimming and that wasn’t available for us, but this pool gives us that convenience. We don’t need to travel to Borovoye or elsewhere to get some suntan.”
The aqua park area is open noon-eight p.m., Monday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday. The fee is 5,000 tenge ($14.60) for adults, 3,000 tenge ($8.70) for kids three-12 and free of charge for kids under three. The price includes towels, sunglasses and recliners based on the “early bird gets the worm” principle.
“I think it is a little too expensive for a public pool,” said Aizhan Makhmut. “Public pools should be set at least three times cheaper! This is the price of a swimming pool in a fitness and spa club, not for a public swimming pool.”
By comparison, Sky Beach at Khan Shatyr costs 10,000 tenge ($28). The promotional hour campaign (10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. daily) is the same price as the capital pool. The swimming pool areas at premium-class fitness clubs start around 10,000 tenge ($28).
The capacity of the central park aqua area is 200 people. The pool for infants and kids is 20-centimetres deep, the next one is 1.5 metres and the pool for adults is graduated to 2.5 metres.
The administration noted the pools are being cleaned every day and have a filtration system to keep the water circulated at all times.
The area has a volleyball court and cafeteria with soft drinks and snacks. Weather permitting, the administration is planning to host evening parties from 8 p.m.-11 p.m.
