In 2000, the city of Willoughby opened its second municipal pool, this one at Osborne Park. The modern, lakeside complex featured zero-depth entries, two big slides on a shared tower, lap lanes, and a kid-friendly play structure.
Twenty-five summers later, the city wanted to mark the milestone in style, with an evening celebration that felt like a neighborhood homecoming. To heighten the sense of community, any resident would be allowed to enter for free.
The decor provided a nostalgic look back. Inside the gate, visitors found oversized historic photos that traced the pool’s story from barn teardown to slide installation — all pulled from a binder of clippings and construction shots that staff have kept and continue to update.
“It gave people a chance to see what it took to build this,” says Aquatics Lead Cade Pastor, who started as an Osborne lifeguard in 2017 and now oversees programming. “This was a place they loved to work at 15. Now they’re 30 with kids and they’re back here swimming.”
From celebration to sign-ups
The event, a blend of simple, joyful touches, relied on a cross-city partnership for its success. It was a group effort from the get-go.
“Teamwork was huge,” Pastor says. “We mapped station leads in weekly meetings so young managers could own a piece of the plan, and it made the whole event run.”
That sense of collaboration came on full display at the event itself. A DJ kept the deck lively, while the fire department grilled hot dogs. Police handed out popsicles, as local businesses hosted games and giveaways for the children.
Former staffers reunited, as previous lifeguards and cashiers were invited back and outfitted in commemorative 25th-anniversary shirts. Meanwhile, current staff tie-dyed their own versions to match the pool’s refreshed brand.
The first 250 guests received sunglasses at the gate. At dusk, the deck lights took over, and the evening transformed into something atmospheric.
Positioning for the next quarter decade
The event was a success on many levels, both immediate and long-term.
To start, turnout exceeded expectations, drawing an estimated 800 people and making it the largest event in the pool’s history.
That exposure yielded many connections that will serve the center and community in the future. Some in attendance had come for the first time and, after seeing the facility up close, signed their children up for lessons or purchased family passes. Some former staffers asked about returning as seasonal employees or volunteers, while city departments signaled interest in future collaborations after a successful night shoulder-to-shoulder with residents.
The anniversary also served a strategic purpose. With Willoughby’s other pool closed, the city is positioning Osborne as the community’s shared summertime living room. Free signature events — this party, Christmas in July, and potential teen/adult nights — lower the barrier for lapsed or new users, showcase amenities, and keep the facility top-of-mind as the surrounding lakefront park undergoes restoration and upgrades.
The team kept marketing simple and local: Facebook for the broad community push, targeted emails to alumni staff, and flyers at city hall, the senior center, and the pool itself. Local press picked it up, amplifying the message.
The event reframed Osborne Park Pool not just as a place to swim, but as a prime gathering spot — an identity that will carry the program into its next 25 years.
