Swimming facilities in many West Virginia state parks will open to the public on Saturday, May 30, marking what many consider the official beginning of the summer season.

“From traditional swimming pools nestled in the beauty of a park setting such as Beech Fork in Wayne County to a dip in designated rivers and lakes, park guests and area residents can take advantage of the summer pastime of swimming at a nearby state park or forest and enjoy our state’s beautiful scenery,” says Ken Caplinger, Chief of the West Virginia State Parks Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Caplinger notes that the North Bend State Park swimming pool will not be open for Memorial Weekend but should open sometime in June .This guest favorite is having a liner installed to control water loss.  “This application is particularly important in water conservation and use as well as lengthening the longevity of one of the state park system’s most unique swimming settings,” say Caplinger.  North Bend’s pool opening and swimming hours will be posted on the park Web site when this improvement is completed.

Caplinger encourages calling the park or forest to inquire about hours of operation for state parks swimming areas. “Our swimming pools may operate at reduced hours the first two weeks in June and some areas are closed one day a week, which generally is on a Monday.”  Most swimming areas are open seven days a week until Labor Day and will operate from late morning to late afternoon.

All state park swimming areas except Audra are supervised by certified lifeguards during operated hours. Phone numbers for parks and forests are available at the state parks Web site, www.wvstateparks.com.  Click ‘Find a park by map” and click into the name of the park or forest you want to visit.

Areas with swimming opportunities in 2008 include:

• State Parks – Audra (river swimming), Babcock, Beech Fork, Blackwater Falls,  Berkeley Springs, Bluestone, Cacapon,  (lake swimming), Canaan Valley, Cedar Creek, Chief Logan, Holly River, Lost River, Moncove Lake, North Bend, Pipestem, Twin Falls, Watoga, Watters Smith
• Forests – Cabwaylingo, Greenbrier
• Wildlife Management Area – Berwind Lake (swimming pool)