BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Recreational Park will continue to offer public swimming on the weekends until Sept. 4.

Upshur County Parks and Recreation Director Jeremiah McCourt said he received approval from the Upshur County Commission to extend seasonal employment for employees working at the Buckhannon Upshur Recreational Park, allowing the pool to stay open longer.

“Next week is our last full week at the pool, and Friday, August 4 is the last weekday it will be open for public swim,” McCourt said. “We’ve had a great season so far; the weather hasn’t really cooperated, but that’s everywhere. We had a really cold June, but I think we’re making up for it now.”

McCourt has also partnered with Trubie Run Outfitters to offer a kayak safety course at the pool.

“We are going to do the first one August 12, and it’s going to be an introductory course where people learn how to get in and out, what to do when you capsize and things like that,” McCourt said. “It’s in a controlled environment, where you can see the bottom of the pool, we have lifeguards, and you don’t have to worry about the current.”

The class will cost $35, but people will need to contact Trubie Run Outfitters directly, and their contact information can be found on their Facebook page.

“Participants will get in the water at about 10 a.m. That will give [the owner/operator] two hours to do everything he needs to do to make sure everyone’s safe in the kayak and then load up, take them down to Hampton, put the boats in the water and then it’s basically a self-guided tour,” McCourt said. “He drops them off and then he goes to the next boat ramp or kayak input and waits for them.”

If enough people express interest in the classes, McCourt hopes to make them a regular occurrence next year.

“I had a class in college called outdoor leisure activities, and we did the canoe and kayak stuff in that little competition pool at Fairmont State, and here we have 385,000 gallons,” McCourt said. “We can do a lot more than just swim lessons and lap swimming, so I called him up and he was super excited, and I got the backing from the admin so we’re going to try it out.”