NOTEBOOK: ‘Y’ aren’t there more swimmers at the new downtown pool?

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After waiting for years with dry swim goggles along with other eager Greater Des Moines YMCA members for the new downtown pool to finally open, I thought I could wait a few weeks before attempting to do some laps, figuring that the initial rush might resemble the Des Moines Triathlon. So when I went for the first time a few weeks ago — just before 5 p.m. on a Thursday after work — I was amazed that I was the only person there to swim laps. The lanes have been equally and enjoyably uncrowded the past few times I’ve gone at different times of the day — mostly around the noon hour and after work, when you think it might be the most popular. Yet I realize that the facility gets a tremendous workout from numerous school competitions that are booked there, as I found firsthand when I couldn’t swim because a meet was underway. Looking at the sedate lap-swim usage, perhaps the usual downtown swimmers who had used the old Riverpoint Y moved on to other Y pools or fitness clubs. Or maybe they’ve been like me and were waiting for the rush to die down. Either way, I can advise you that the water’s fine. Come enjoy the Y’s downtown aquatic jewel with me.