MONROE, Conn. — Town residents will enjoy free use of the pool at Masuk High School with proof of residency and a photo ID, when changes to its fee structure goes into effect on Sept. 21. This is among the highlights of Monroe Parks and Recreation’s 2026 fee schedule for the next fiscal year, which was unanimously approved by the Town Council.
“Residents will still need to register for a membership next fall and must have their card to enter,” Parks and Recreation Director Missy Orosz said Friday. “The use of the Masuk pool will be scheduled around our permitted times from the Masuk High School Athletic Department and everyone needs to understand that their swim teams, school programming and other rentals they schedule do have priority.”
Orosz said no open/lap swimming will be available during the school day or on weekends and fees will still be charged for swimming lessons and group rentals.
“This is to make sure we have the adequate amount of lifeguards and support staff on duty when the pool is available to us,” she said. “The pool’s rules we have will also be in effect to ensure there is proper supervision of children based on age and what you can use the pool for.”
Younger children must be accompanied by parents or another legal guardian.
“We are trying this out to get more Monroe residents involved in aquatics,” Orosz said of the free admission. “Swimming is a great form of exercise and physical fitness and of course, one of the best lifetime activities someone can engage in.”
During the Monroe Town Council meeting on Jan. 12, First Selectman Terry Rooney said Orosz had given him recommendations for revisions to the 2026 seasonal fee schedule, which were also reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Before the Town Council vote, Councilman Jason Maur said of representatives for Monroe Parks and Recreation, “they’re not going to toot their own horn, but I will. this is something I’ve been chewing Missy’s ear off about, among other ideas, for eight years now. I’m happy to see it coming to fruition. Not only are there no increases to residents throughout, effective September 2026, Monroe residents will be able to use the Masuk pool for free without any sort of fee.”
“When we’ve looked at this in the past, it’s always been an idea of mine when we don’t make a lot of revenue off of something, but can provide that service anyways, why not just provide it and we might see more use out of it?” he added, “and I’m hoping to see that happen here. So thank you to Missy and to the commission for making that one vision come to fruition.”
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