MANKATO VINE Adult Community Centers pool is just about ready to make its initial splash.

The $1.3 million project, funded by a combination of grants, donations, fundraisers and loans, will conclude with a grand opening event at 10:30 a.m. July 10 at the nonprofit on Fifth Street.

The 19 feet by 50 feet pool will then be used for exercise and recreation, allowing seniors to keep busy with another activity on site.

Karen Christy, VINEs health and wellness coordinator, said a pool was part of the nonprofits vision since before the community center even existed.

One of the first things that came up was a warm-water pool, she said of early planning discussions. A lot of people if they have any kind of issues with joints arthritis, knee replacement, hip replacement its one of the best ways to stay active.

Seniors currently use Old Main Villages nearby pool for water aerobic classes. Christy said the classes will move to VINE once the pool opens, along with open swimming and other activities. Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato also will rent the pool for therapy sessions during the week.

Pat Doyen of Vernon Center is among the VINE regulars looking forward to the pools opening. She has adrenomyeloneuropathy, a spinal cord condition that causes leg weakness, so water-based exercise makes leg lifts and toe raises easier. The pool has a lift to help her and others drop into the water.

Youre able to do exercises in the water that you cant do on dry ground, she said.

She plans to attend the opening and take her first dip soon after. Although Doyen couldnt make it, VINE invited the Old Main aerobics class to test out the pool last week along with several rubber duckies. The test run went swimmingly, as did inspections and water testing in recent days.

Carol Schneiderhan, working out at VINE Monday, said she too prefers water exercises. She does water aerobics while wintering down south, and said shell give it a try here once the pool opens.

You feel good and yet you get the resistance of the water, she said of the benefits.

Work on the mens and womens locker rooms remains before the grand opening. The pool itself, however, is ready to go.

Christy has watched the space go from storage and a literal hole in the ground to what it is now. With the pool being on the nonprofits wishlist for so long, she said its a surreal feeling to be so close to the finish.

Its amazing to think its actually going to happen," she said.

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VINE pool to surface July 10 - Mankato Free Press