Four churches help open $1 Kroc water park to all Kerr County residents
The arrangement also fills a gap created by the temporary closure of the city’s Olympic Pool, which is undergoing scheduled renovations. With that pool offline, the Kroc Center has become the community’s main public swimming option for the summer.
A coalition of four Kerrville churches has stepped in to extend $1 water park access at the Salvation Army Kerrville Kroc Center to every Kerr County resident this summer, expanding a program that began as a partnership between the city and the Kroc Center.
The $1 admission runs through Aug. 15, from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The discounted access first launched May 23 for Kerrville residents, then grew county-wide after four congregations agreed to cover the operational costs and additional lifeguard wages needed to serve the larger crowd for the full season.
The arrangement also fills a gap created by the temporary closure of the city’s Olympic Pool, which is undergoing scheduled renovations. With that pool offline, the Kroc Center has become the community’s main public swimming option for the summer.
The four churches — St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church and Southern Oaks Church of Kerrville — were inspired by St. Peter’s “Help & Hope for the Hill Country” flood relief mission, launched in response to last year’s July 4 flood. Organizers say recreation and play are part of the community’s healing.
“Since the beginning, we knew we wanted to focus on mental health and the emotional and spiritual care of our entire community, as we were all affected by this tragedy,” said the Rev. Bert Baetz, rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. “We have learned the powerful healing impact of play and recreation to aid in healing from trauma.”
Maj. Phil Swyers, commanding officer of the Salvation Army Kerrville Corps and Kroc Center, said the early response has been strong. “The joy we have experienced in just the first week of summer, having so many families enjoying this amazing facility, is truly heartwarming,” he said, thanking the churches for extending access county-wide.
The $1 K-Pass is available on-site each day the facility operates, with no advance purchase required. For more information, visit KerrvilleKroc.org or call 830-315-5762.
Residents with questions about the Olympic Pool renovation timeline can contact the Kerrville Parks and Recreation Department at 830-257-7300 or recreation@kerrvilletx.gov.
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