ungstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown attempts to defy the laws of gravity with his inaugural dive into the city’s Northside Pool. The pool opened for the first time this year Wednesday. It is scheduled to remain open through Sept. 10.... Staff photo / David Skolnick

YOUNGSTOWN — The long-awaited opening of the city’s Northside Pool came with a splash as Mayor Jamael Tito Brown dove into its cold waters.

Brown officially opened the pool Wednesday with a dive off the diving board.

Brown worked as a lifeguard at the pool in 1989 and said the lessons he learned there have served him well.

“It’s about discipline and being tough,” he said. “It isn’t an easy job. The confidence of the lifeguards here will grow.”

It took longer than expected for the city’s only public pool to open this year.

First, a shortage of chlorine and mechanical malfunctions pushed the opening from June 6 to June 28. Then a lack of lifeguards delayed the opening until Wednesday.

The city lost three of the six lifeguards for the pool the day before the June 28 expected opening. The pool now has 11 lifeguards.

One of them, Aaron Medina, 16, of Youngstown, got his certification in March and said he was excited to get to work Wednesday.

“I plan on doing this all the way through high school,” he said. “It teaches me a lot of life skills. I’m glad we’re opened.”

Eiran Walker, 10, and Zaire Rushton, 14, both of Youngstown, were two of the first swimmers at the pool on opening day.

“It’s fun,” Zaire said. “We come here all the time. I’m excited it’s finally opened.”

His first impression of the pool? “The water is cold.”

Eiran added: “I’m here to have fun.”

The pool, on the corner of Belmont Avenue and Tod Lane, is open 1 to 8 p.m. daily unless otherwise specified.

Admission is $3 for those 18 and older and $2 for children.

Dawn Turnage, the city’s parks and recreation director, said she was pleased to get the pool open, particularly after it had to be closed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pool usually closes for the year in mid-August. But because of the delays in opening it, it will remain open until Sept. 10, Turnage said.

dskolnick@vindy.com