ABOVE: An empty Fairmont Aquatic Park which will soon be filled upon opening day on June 3.

FAIRMONT – Open swimming pool hours are returning to the city of Fairmont. It’s time to make a splash – and with new appointed management, too. The city has appointed a new Aquatic Facilities Manager, Lexie Lange, a science teacher at Martin County West High School and a former Aquatic Park lifeguard. Under Lange’s management, the park is set to open officially on June 3 to the public.

This will be the 25th year of the Fairmont Aquatic Park and while this will be Lange’s first year managing the pool, it’s long been in good hands. Previously, Fairmont city staff member Betsy Steuber had managed the pool but upon taking over the role of city clerk, a new person was needed to manage the Aquatic Park.

Lange described, as her start date is nearing close, that she is excited to return to the Aquatic Park after four years of absence since she was a lifeguard. She remarked that the return seems almost nostalgic.

“I saw they were hiring for a new manager. I have experience in the field. As a teacher, I have summers off, so I think it’d be a good seasonal job.” Lange said, noting how the new role also tied to both her past experience and her earned degree.

Lange is a Martin County West alumni, and a graduate from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul where she earned her degree in Business. Since then, she began her career as a high school science teacher before her ultimate decision to return to the Aquatic Park as an aquatic facilities manager for the summer.

“Working there as a child, it was such a fun job. I think it’ll be a fun challenge to keep that fun alive,” Lange remarked.

With her new role, Lange will oversee the entire facility, including the lifeguard team, concessions and events. The Aquatic Park currently has nearly fifty staff members between lifeguards and concession workers.

“When I was working there [as a lifeguard], I wouldn’t just clock out and be ready to just be done with these people. We got close by the end of the summer. We hung out, went to Dairy Freeze, had bonfires at someone else’s house. There’s a family-feel,” Lange said.

As the Aquatic Park is seeking new lifeguards to join the team, Lange emphasized the significance of the lifeguard duty. Beyond the responsibility of upholding safety within the swimming pool setting, she described the position to be very fun, enriching and an overall fantastic environment to work in.

“It’s not common to make real saves. But I’ve had moments of pulling kids out of the water who couldn’t touch or breathe, and thinking ‘Woah, I just…saved this person’s life,'” Lange said. “You learn a lot of transferable skills that you can pass along into the future.”

Lange shared that’d she be arriving to the pool again with a new perspective, and she was looking forward to the new position throughout the summer.

For information regarding employment as a lifeguard or staff member, those interested may visit the Aquatic Park building (once opened on June 3) or visit the Aquatic Park website. Inquiries on lessons, classes, passes and more can be made to Aquatic Park staff at the building or on the website.