Holmes County pool offers family-friendly features and daily rates

Crissey Memorial Pool gives Holmes County families a straightforward summer choice: pay by age, bring younger children to the zero-entry side, and let stronger swimmers use the six-foot deep end. The Holmes County Park District’s renovated facility is set up for toddlers, teens and grandparents in the same visit, with daily rates that top out at $5 and hours that run into the afternoon every day of the week.

What the renovation changes for parents and kids

The pool is designed to solve one of the most common family recreation problems: finding one place where different ages can enjoy the water without everyone needing the same level of swim skill. The district describes Crissey as a renovated, family-friendly facility that starts with a zero-entry area and water features for young children before reaching the deeper end for more experienced swimmers. That layout gives small children a gentler way in and gives older swimmers a more traditional pool experience.

That mix matters for parents trying to plan a trip that works for a range of ages. A zero-entry design makes it easier for younger children and first-time swimmers to get comfortable in the water, while the six-foot deep end keeps the pool useful for older kids who want more depth than a splash area can offer. In practical terms, Crissey is not just a place to cool off; it is built to serve a family group with different needs at once.

What it costs

The district’s daily pricing is simple enough to budget before you leave home. Current daily rates are:

• 2 and under: free
• Preschool ages 3 to 4: $4
• Students ages 5 to 17: $5
• Seniors 65 and older: $5

That structure keeps the pool accessible for families who are counting every dollar. A parent with several children can estimate the full cost quickly, and grandparents can factor themselves into the outing without a separate admission category or an unpredictable add-on charge.

Hours, access and weather updates

The district lists 2026 daily pool hours as Monday through Saturday from 12 to 6 and Sunday from 1 to 6. Those hours make the pool workable for afternoon outings, especially for families who want a shorter trip after lunch rather than a full-day commitment. They also give residents a clear seasonal rhythm, with the same basic schedule each week.

For day-to-day planning, the district says weather-related closings and special events are posted on its Facebook page. That detail matters in a county where summer weather can shift quickly and where a pool visit often depends on whether the day stays warm and dry. It also gives families one place to check before heading out, instead of guessing at the gate.

What to expect on busy days

Crissey is not a niche amenity. In January 2020, The Daily Record reported that the James L. Crissey Memorial swimming pool had over 8,000 visitors during the summer of 2019, even after a rainy June. That was the facility’s best season since the Holmes County Park District took over ownership and management in 2016.

That visitor count suggests the pool already has a proven local audience, so the busiest hours are likely to feel like a true community recreation scene rather than a private swim club. Families looking for more elbow room may want to keep that popularity in mind when choosing when to go, especially on hot weekends and around school breaks.

How Crissey fits into Holmes County recreation

The pool is part of a broader public recreation system that gives Holmes County residents more than one way to spend a summer afternoon. The Holmes County Trail offers more than 26 miles of paved scenic pathways for bicyclists, pedestrians, horseback riders and buggies. That trail network matters because it shows the park district is investing in both active transportation and outdoor leisure, not just one type of amenity.

The district’s work has also extended to connectivity and access. In January 2020, The Daily Record noted a lighting project along the Holmes County Trail leading to the bridge across Killbuck Creek, connecting the trail and the old fairgrounds. That kind of infrastructure work helps explain why the park district’s recreation footprint reaches beyond the pool gates and into the county’s everyday movement patterns.

How the pool has changed over time

Crissey’s current setup is more streamlined than the version described in May 2011, when The Daily Record reported the Village of Millersburg’s James Crissey Memorial Swimming Pool would open Saturday, June 4. At that time, First Knox National Bank was sponsoring free admission from June 4 through June 10, and the pool was scheduled to close for the season Aug. 21.

The 2011 schedule was also more complicated. Hours were listed as Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., plus fair week hours of 1 to 5 p.m. only. The pool was to be closed when the temperature at opening was 70 degrees or lower, and the gate fees were preschool $2 and students $3. Compared with that earlier model, the district’s current daily schedule and age-based pricing are easier for families to use without checking as many special cases.

For Holmes County families deciding where to spend time and money this season, Crissey stands out because it is both affordable and age-aware. The pool gives younger children a safer-feeling entry point, older swimmers a deeper end, and parents a clear price sheet before they ever pack the towels.