Mayor Issues Warning About Trespassing at City Pools

Posted on: June 9, 2016

When the heat is on, the pool is a priority, especially for kids.

“I go swimming every day,” one young swimmer said.

“Like if is a hot day, the pool is the best place to be,” said another young swimmer.

That’s why city pools are open, but when they close, and kids want to swim, some break the rules.

Laurel Police are aware that people are tempted to break into city pools, trespass when no lifeguard is on duty, jump the pool fence, and jump off of lifeguard ladders. Most of the time it’s just kids trying to have fun, but police say trespassing in closed pools is dangerous and could lead to serious consequences including arrest. LPD recently arrested two people for jumping the fence at the L.T. Ellis pool.

Mayor Johnny Magee is also giving a warning to those tempted to take a dip without permission.

“People need to understand that breaking into the pools or jumping the pool fence is indeed trespassing and will not be tolerated,” Mayor Johnny Magee stated.

Unfortunately, tragedy happened recently when Juwine Hughes, 13, of Laurel, died from drowning at a community pool in Hattiesburg. The pool was not open at the time of the incident.

The City of Laurel is set to offer free swim lessons for rising 5th and 6th graders at absolutely no cost to the public. Lessons will be held at the Oak Park pool in two sessions. Each session meets for a 1-hour class Monday through Friday for one week. Kids are strongly encouraged to attend all classes. First session is for rising 5th graders on June 2 -July 1 from 11:00am-12:00pm. Second session is for rising 6th graders on July 11-15 from 11:00am-12:00pm.

“We want our kids to be safe and that is why the city of Laurel is taking more action to offer children water safety lessons because anything can happen, anything. But, parents, have a responsibility, too,” said Magee.

That includes providing swimming lessons and researching additional pool days because this is an issue that is not going away as the summer heats up. For more information about pool hours, contact the Parks & Recreation department at 601.428.6452.