Alvin D. Brown Memorial Swimming Pool History

Swimming in Pendleton has been an integral part of recreation since the 1920’s. Falls Park was then a destination in central Indiana for folks seeking a place to picnic and cool off during the hot summers.

After decades as a milling center and stone quarry, the area around the falls was an eyesore. In 1918, Pendleton Town Board members envisioned a community park and approved a tax levy to fund the development. The area was cleared, banks smoothed, and stone quarry cleaned to make the area suitable for recreation. A dam built below the falls formed the "swimming pool," and Falls Park and the original natural "pool" opened in 1920.

The swimming "hole" at the base of the falls in Fall Creek provided summer recreation for thousands of residents and travelers until 1969. Unfortunately, at that time harmful bacteria was discovered in Fall Creek, and the "swimming hole" was closed in the interest of public safety.

Alvin D. Brown Memorial Swimming Pool

Fast forward to 1979. It had been 10 years since swimming in Falls Park was a regular activity for the public. Many options were explored about how to replace the old pool in the creek. Through a donation by the Alvin Brown family, The Pendleton Conservation Club, a Land and Water Conservation Grant administered by Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), along with the sale of bonds financed by the property owners of Fall Creek Township and the Town of Pendleton, a new modern Swimming Facility was built.

Today, Brown Pool has transformed into much of what our community demands. We offer various recreation opportunities such as the 8-lane Olympic length main pool that is able to host Pendleton Swim Club practice twice daily, and lap swimming morning and evening. Swim lessons for kids starting at 4 years old are taught morning and evening by our certified lifeguards.  Water Zumba and Aerobics draw many in for exercise with certified YMCA instructors.

Grandparents find Brown Pool a great place to entertain visiting grandchildren. The waterslide offers excitement with a cool plunge into the pool after an exhilarating run down the twisted sluice. The 2 diving boards provide challenges to those attempting to perfect their front dive or cannonball the observant guards. A baby pool for toddlers and a concession stand to curb your hunger will provide all that is needed.

Community Supports Brown Pool

2015 SPLASH & 2016 Dive In! Campaigns Generated Community Support to Sustain Our Pool 

With the tremendous community support generated through the 2015 SPLASH and 2016 Dive In! campaigns, Brown Pool has received tremendous support from organizations and individuals in the community. Beginning with the Pool Survey sent out in early 2015, residents and businesses alike expressed overwhelmingly that they want to see Brown Pool continue to operate and thrive in Pendleton. Major sponsors in 2015 and 2016 have helped provide for healthy operations and improvement to the Pool.

Community Hospital Anderson renewed its major "Fun Slide" sponsorship for the 2016 season, which it views as an important opportunity to encourage physical activity and improved health in Madison County residents, according to Director of Marketing, Leah Campbell. We are fortunate to have Community Hospital and these other tremendous organizations as supporters! 

Major Brown Pool sponsors: 

• Community Hospital Anderson: 2015 & 2016 Fun Slide sponsor
• St.Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital: 2016 Concession Stand sponsor
• Pendleton Kiwanis: 2015 & 2016 Sunscreen sponsor
• Ring Construction: 2016 Locker Room sponsor & 2015 donor
• Payne Technologies: 2016 Sound System sponsor
• Pendleton Lion's Club: 2015 sponsor

We would also like to thank these additional organizations and individuals who have generously sponsored and donated to Brown Pool over the last few years: Quack Daddy Donuts, Sisson Family Dentistry, Indiana International School of Diving and Rockhill LawnCare LLC, Pendleton Gamma Pi Chapter of Tri Kappa, Studio Fit, State Farm Amy Turner, JAGS Restaurant, The Trading Post for Fiber Arts, Lions Club of Pendleton, Clipzone Salon & Spa and The Salon Professional Academy, Intersect Inc., Fredericks Inc. Contractors

Pendleton Swim Club Organizes First Local Meet Since 2010, Brown Pool Hosts

Saturday, June 25, 2016, Pendleton Swim Club (PSC) ran its first swim meet in Pendleton since 2010. Co-hosted by Power Aquatics, the Stars & Stripes Invitational also included Yorktown Swim Club, Lawrence Swim team, and Greenfield Community Aquatic Team.

The event included more than 70 events in over 7 hours of competition in sprints, distance races, and relays and hosted 155 swimmers, 14 coaches, 14 officials, and over 400 spectators.

Londa Bennett, Brown Pool Manager was thrilled with the event, sharing that the event was great for the Pool and she received overwhelmingly positive responses from both teams and spectators. "We'd love to host a meet again next year," says Bennett. 

Brown Pool was well represented by three staff members who are part of Pendleton Swim Club:

• Lifeguard Madison Brand compiled the most points and won her age group of 15 and up by placing 1st in the 100 Backstroke and 400 Freestyle and 2nd in the 400 Medley Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay, and the Open 1,500(30 lengths of the pool, which she swam in just over 20 minutes!). Trooper that Madison is, she also worked asa lifeguard that night at the 1820 Society-sponsored Free Swim event! 
• Lifeguard Noah Miller set new personal best times in three events: 100 Breaststroke, 100 Freestyle, and 50 Freestyle. 
• Head Lifeguard Jake Childress (AKA "The Bouncer") coached the PSC team during the meet and worked as a guard along with Madison at the Free Swim that night. 

What a great group!  (Complete PSC results can be found in the June 29, 2016 issue of The Times-Post.)

Special thanks to those companies and organizations that sponsored and supported the Stars & Stripes Invitational, including Quack Daddy Donuts, Ricker's, Fredericks Inc. Contractors (James Brand), and Edward Jones.