As the mercury routinely hits 90 degrees, it’s time to think about staying cool. For those in Covington, the newly renovated pool at the Rev. Peter Atkins Park on the corner of West 28th Avenue and North Tyler Street will offer a refreshingly cool blast of summer fun in the afternoons beginning Thursday.

The pool is named for the late Rev. Peter Atkins, a local civil rights leader during the 1960s who was the founder of the Bethel Reform Methodist Church. He initiated the original pool project with 1961 Covington Mayor Emile Menetre.

Covington District A Councilwoman Frances Dunn said neighborhood children have been asking when the pool would open.

Final touches and pool maintenance checks are being performed on the Rev. Peters Atkins Park pool in Covington for it'€™s opening Thursday. Shown is pool maintenance worker Jeremy Collins, checking on pumps and filters. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

“Everyone’s very excited about it, waiting to cool off,” Dunn said.

At the Covington City Council meeting Tuesday night, Mayor Candace Watkins expressed regret that she will be out of town for the opening and will not be able to perform her ritual “opening cannonball” dive. Instead, city attorney Deborah Foshee jokingly volunteered for the job in Watkins’ absence.

The pool, complete with three lifeguards on duty at all times, will be open to the public during the following hours:

• Mondays — closed

• Tuesdays — 2-6 p.m. and Wize Guys (age 50 and older) 6-7 p.m.

• Wednesdays — 1-6 p.m. with adult swim from 6-7 p.m.

• Thursdays — 2-6 p.m. and Wize Guys 6-7 p.m.

• Fridays — 2-6 p.m. with adult swim from 6-7 p.m.

• Saturdays — 1-7 p.m.

• Sundays — noon to 7 p.m.

In addition, community camps will be using the pool Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. until noon by reservation only. At the council meeting, Watkins said a full complement of camps have already reserved time in the pool.

There will also be a senior water aerobics class on Saturdays from 9-10 a.m. to be taught by a certified instructor hired by the recreation department, Dunn said.

Free swimming lessons by the American Red Cross will also be available from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturdays by reservation. To schedule lessons, call the recreation office at 893-4044

The pool will remain open all summer and serve the community at a fee of $1 per swimmer.

The 48-year-old pool was the source of financial controversy earlier this year when the City Council debated costs and the wisdom of renovating the pool as opposed to building a new one in its place. The official cost of the pool renovation is $48,000, according to the mayor’s assistant, Catherine Brown.

Watkins said the issues surrounding the pool were financial and not about the pool itself. In fact, in April she stated the pool is for everyone’s use and said she plans to have an employee picnic at the park, using the pool. Brown said now that the pool is opening, plans are being made for an employee picnic, but no date has been set.