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NEW CANAAN, Conn. Amber Kempf, 9, delighted in the cool waters and warm sand for most of Friday.
Amber also took a few swims with her sister Shawna, 12, and gave her snorkel mask a bit of a workout. Emerging from the water, she spent time being creative with the sand, all while her mom, Terri Kempf, sat in a chair and enjoyed the sound of kids at play.
I like to swim, and I get to play in the sand, Amber said with a big smile. Shawna was also happy to be there. Its clear water, and you get to swim. It feels nice and it cools you down, she said.
But the Kempfs were not near an ocean or Long Island Sound. Their day at the beach was at the Kiwanis Park swimming area off Old Norwalk Road.
Long before New Canaan built a pool in Waveny Park, town residents anxious to take a dip ventured to Kiwanis Park for play and a chance to cool off. The towns so-called swimming hole is not what anyone would expect. The water is chlorinated and monitored by the New Canaan Recreation Department, which is reassuring to the parents.
The water is clean, so theres no junk or fish like you would find in a pond, said Julian Schott, the Kiwanis Park supervisor.
In addition to the sand, Kiwanis Park also has a play area, giving kids play options that dont require swimming gear. Terri Kempf said she enjoys Kiwanis more than Waveny because it is quieter and more family friendly.
When asked whether swimming ever gets boring, Samantha Pia, 9, Ambers cousin, said, We can play all day."
Will you visit the Kiwanis Park swimming area this summer? Do you prefer Kiwanis and its water hole or do you like the Waveny Pool? Leave a comment below or visit our Facebook page.
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