Heat wave is too much for Durant City Pool

The City of Durant closed its swimming pool due to the ongoing Excessive Heat Warning. (KTEN)

DURANT, Okla. -- In at least one Texoma city, it's too hot to go for a swim.

According to the Parks and Recreation Department, the newly-renovated Durant City Pool was closed during its regular operating hours -- 1 to 5 p.m. -- on both Thursday and Friday due to the extreme temperatures. 

It will be closed again on Saturday afternoon.

The city said the decision was made out of concern for the safety of employees who would have to be working outside in temperatures approaching 110 degrees during an Excessive Heat Warning.

"The ground does get hot around the pool edges and the diving boards," explained Public Works Director Marty Cook. "They are all made out of metal, and just become too hot, and it's just too difficult to use."

But some residents seeking heat relief were puzzled. The Boys and Girls Club of Durant has been using the pool all summer for its young patrons to stay cool. 

"We had a scheduled trip for the kids to be out here at the pool," said director Larry Long. "Since it was closed that day, we had to make arrangements to go down to the pool in Sherman...  and, of course, we had to pay gas, and caused some challenges for us."

Cook said there is a plan to make the pool a bit cooler, including the addition of an air conditioning system, more shade, and a cool deck. Until then, he said the city made the right decision.

"Any time we can protect the life of the lifeguards and take care of the kids who run the pool, that's what we need to be doing," Cook said.

The Durant City Pool will be open Saturday until 1 p.m. and then again from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cook said the pool should be able to resume its normal schedule on Monday, when the forecast says it will be just a bit less hot.