Splish, splash. Splish, splash. Splish splash.

With the water at a comfortable 74 degrees, conditions were ideal for opening day at the Palmerton Memorial Pool.The facility held its 64th annual opening day this past weekend to much fanfare, according to Larry Arner, pool manager."The phone has been ringing off the hook this morning," Arner said. "It's been a while since they were standing at the gate waiting to get in."Colin Kern, of Brodheadsville, was the first person to go down the pool's popular waterslide this year."That was fun," said Colin, 5. "I liked going all the way down."Across the pool, Jimmy Imbriaco, of Palmerton, was busy perfecting flips off the diving board."I came to see my friends," said Jimmy, 10. And to go on the diving boards."They certainly weren't alone, as 1,588 season pool passes had already been sold up to that point.Arner said the severe weather conditions - specifically that which occurred in the days that led up to opening day - was a hindrance at times."The rain was hampering us getting done what we normally would have been done with," he said. "The storm damage is nothing compared to what the people had to deal with in Joplin [Mo]."Regular hours at the pool from now until June 7 are 3-8 p.m. Monday through Friday.As of June 8, regular hours will be 12-8 Monday through Friday, 10-8 Saturday, and 1-8 Sunday.For more information, visit

www.palmertonpool.com.