General policies
Policies for club members
All club members must be in good standing, having paid stock fees and annual dues prior to using the pool and tennis courts.
Club members must sign form indicating they have read and agree to follow these pool rules and procedures. Members are responsible for ensuring that their children and guests are aware of these rules.
Membership process
Oak Park Club is a private Pool and Tennis club. Membership is open to residents of the Oak Park neighborhood as well as other surrounding areas. Individuals requesting new membership complete an application form, and submit required stock fees and annual dues. Upon payment of stock fees, a stock certificate is issued that entitles owner to one share of Oak Park Club stock. If a new member has a stock certificate that has been conveyed in the purchase of a home or by other means, the old stock certificate must be turned in and a new one issued in the new member’s name.
Membership categories/dues (as revised January 2010)
The Oak Park Club offers a range of memberships to correspond to specific family size. Each year the board reviews the membership categories and dues structure. The following membership categories are:
Family membership
One or more adults with one or more children.
Dues: $525
Adult couple
Two adults living in the same household. A couple with a baby under 18 month can purchase an “Adult couple” membership. If the child is older than 18 months, a family membership must be purchased.
Dues: $375
Single adult or sustainer
Single individual within a household.
Dues: $275
Senior citizen couple
Two individuals over age 60 living in the same household. Clarification: at least one of the individuals must be over 60.
Dues: $225
Senior citizen adult: Single individual over age 60.
Dues: $200
Invoices received after March 1 are subject to a $25 late fee
Oak Park Club guest policy
The Oak Park Club facilities (pool, tennis courts, basketball court, and other pool grounds are for the enjoyment and use of club members and their guests only. Guests are welcome at the pool but must be accompanied by a current member to use any of the club facilities. All guests (both in and out of Wake County) must pay a $3 per day guest fee. Guest passes will not be issued. Club members are responsible for explaining the club rules to their guests.
Pool operating schedule
Oak Park Pool traditionally begins its season on Memorial Day weekend and closes on Labor Day. The pool generally opens several days prior to Memorial Day for swim team practices. The hours of operation are approved each spring by the Board of directors. The hours are posted at the pool and listed on the Web site. Generally the pools hours are more limited in the weeks before traditional school closes in May and after traditional school resumes in August.
Oak Park’s Swim team will participate in six meets over the summer on Tuesday evenings. Three are home meets that will require the pool to close early to the general membership on those afternoons/evenings. The early closings dates will be posted on the Notice Board at the pool. Selected swimmers may participate in the Triangle Swim Association (TSA) Championship meet held in July.
Inclement weather policy
The club intends to keep the pool available to its members as much as safety allows throughout the summer. In those rare cases when the weather is extremely bad, the decision to close or remain open will be made by the pool manager and/or the club president.
Pool work days
Oak Park Pool depends on its members to do the pre-season preparation necessary to ensure that the pool is ready to pass inspection and open in May. The level of work needed varies from year to year. Workdays are set in the spring and posted on the web site and at strategic locations in the Oak Park neighborhood. When necessary, board members make phone calls to encourage club members to assist at workdays.
Rental policy for after-hours use of the pool
The Oak Park Pool is available for rent during non-regular hours. Individuals/groups wishing to reserve the pool can do so by completing a Pool Rental Agreement and signing a waiver. Interested parties should contact the pool manager 10 days prior to intended rental date.
Children — safety and supervision at the pool
The safety and enjoyment of club members and especially children is the highest priority of the club and its board. Children must be under the direct supervision of a responsible adult or caretaker at all times. Specific policies for children at Oak Park Pool are:
Make children aware of pool rules/policies
Parents must read the Oak Park handbook policies/pool rules and inform children of proper pool behavior. In particular, children should be reminded regularly to adhere to the direction of lifeguards and pool manager. Parents should review the pool rules (below) with children. Parents should remind children to walk (not run) on the pool deck, eat in designated areas (no food near the pool), pick up their trash, turn off the water in the bathhouse and respect others at the pool.
Swim diapers
Parents of non-toilet trained children must ensure that children use a swim diaper. This should be the case, even if a child is “partially trained”. The consequences of a pool accident can be serious in terms of money used for necessary chemicals to correct the accident and restriction of pool use for several hours following the accident.
Older children alone at the pool
For several years, Oak Park Club has allowed children over a certain age to be at the pool without an adult. The purpose of this is to enhance the child’s enjoyment of the pool and to allow a level of independence for the child. The minimum age for a child to be left at the pool without an adult is 10 years old.
Parents should use discretion and assess the child’s maturity when allowing a child to be left alone at the pool. The pool lifeguards are not able to function as babysitters and are not responsible for children, other than to direct appropriate pool and deck behavior. Parents should periodically check in with children who are at the pool on their own. Children at the pool are expected to follow all pool rules. Parents must update the emergency phone number book so that they can be reached if needed.
Babysitters minimum age
Children at the pool must be accompanied by an adult or babysitter over the age of 13. Children under the age of 10 may not be left with a sibling or other sitter unless the sibling/sitter is at least 13 years old.
Pool rules
The following rules are guidelines for safe use of the Oak Park Pool. In addition, the Pool Manager may prohibit any activity judged to be unsafe.
All members and guests must sign in
Guest must pay guest fee if applicable
Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult or babysitter over the age of 13
No swimming without a lifeguard on duty
No running on the pool deck
No pushing/shoving or rough play in the pool or on the deck
No diving in water less than five feet
No handstands off the side of the pool
No hanging or sitting on ropes
No littering — members and guests must properly dispose of their trash and items to be recycled
No floats or inner tubes allowed in the pool except for designated special occasions such as “Float and Floats.” No jumping off boards or sides of pool with floats
No dolls or toys allowed in the pool
Fins, swim goggles, or swim masks may be used but snorkeling is not allowed.
Proper swimming attire required for the pool — no cut-offs allowed
No band-aids to be worn while swimming
No sitting or standing on tables
No pets allowed in the pool area or rest rooms
Food and drinks must be kept behind the red line; glass containers are not allowed.
Do not distract lifeguards while in the stand
Pool is reserved for swimmers age 16 and up for ten minutes each hour
Small children and their caretakers shall have first priority for using the shallow (3 feet) section of the pool except during those times (such as swim team practice) when this section is the only section available for general member swimming
Clear the pool immediately upon lifeguard identification of lightning
Diving rules
Mount diving boards by ladders only.
No going back down ladders; if swimmer climbs the ladder, he or she must jump off.
One person on the board at a time. Wait at the bottom of the ladder until the person ahead has jumped/dived off the board.
Do not jump until the diver in front swims away from the board.
No running dives.
Dive or jump straight off.
Only one bounce allowed.
No hanging from boards.
Swim clear after going off the board. No swimming under or in front of the boards.
Non-swimmers must stay in shallow end of pool.
Slide rules
One person on the slide at a time. Wait at the bottom of the ladder until the person ahead has gone off the slide.
Do not go back down the ladder; if climb the ladder, must slide.
Go down slide feet first only.
Make sure the pool area in front of the slide is clear of the preceding slider and all other swimmers before sliding down.
No hanging form the slide.
No swimming in front of the slide.
Swim clear after going off the slide.
Restroom/bathhouse rules
Do not waste shower or sink water. Shut off water completely.
Report any restroom problems immediately to pool manager or lifeguard on duty.
Violation of pool rules
All pool members are expected to follow the above policies and rules. Failure to do so will result in appropriate consequences, including the possible restricted use of the pool.