With the completion of the impressive new swimming pool at Olentangy Park, some of its standout features are worth highlighting.

The pool is massive—85 feet wide and 325 feet long—and holds over one million gallons of water. Thanks to modern plumbing, it can be filled in just five hours and drained in three. The water comes directly from the city’s mains and is 100% clean and safe for swimming. A continuous flow of fresh water will circulate throughout the day to maintain cleanliness. On especially busy days, the pool will be fully drained and refilled as needed to ensure the highest sanitary standards.

The pool was added by Will D. Harris, who operates the park. He invested over $15,000 in the project as part of his lease agreement. To put its capacity into perspective: if you tried to empty it using a one-quart bucket—moving one quart per minute, 24 hours a day—it would take more than 23 years to finish the job!

The pool will be open daily from 9 a.m. until the park closes each evening. Night swimming will also be offered, with the same lighting, safety, and supervision as during the day. Emmett Ruh will oversee a trained team of lifeguards, including well-known locals like Charles “Chic” Harley. All lifeguards are certified and capable of teaching swimming lessons to beginners.

The pool has a gradual slope—from a shallow end of just 18 inches to a deep end reaching nine feet. More than 7,000 bathing suits have been made available for rental, featuring the latest styles and colors. The modern bathhouse includes showers, lockers, and full amenities to ensure a comfortable experience for all guests.

With this new addition, Columbus now boasts the largest artificial swimming pool in Ohio and the second largest in the entire United States. It can accommodate up to 5,000 swimmers at one time, and laundry facilities allow cleaning and drying bathing suits within 10 minutes.

For those watching the swimmers, live band concerts will be held regularly at the nearby North Bandstand, and special events will be scheduled throughout the summer.

State and local health officials will monitor water quality regularly, and a doctor will always be on site for emergencies. Every effort has been made to create a fun, safe, and thoroughly enjoyable experience for families and swimmers of all ages.