How does Memorial Day weekend at the beach sound?

Thanks to a new partnership between the city of Colorado Springs and the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, it sounds sure-enough.

On May 26, right before the unofficial start of summer, the Y will open the manmade beach at Memorial Park as well as the Monument Valley, Portal and Wilson Ranch outdoor pools. The Y will take over operation of the Memorial Park and Cottonwood Creek recreation centers on May 26, too.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region to open the City’s pools for families to enjoy,” Kim King, the city’s parks administration manager, said Tuesday in an email.

“May 26 is going to be the start of a great summer in Colorado Springs,” she said.

The partnership with the Y is part of an effort by Mayor Steve Bach to save taxpayers money. Under contract, the city will subsidize the Y for any year-end shortfall “to the point of a break-even status,” but the Bach administration hopes the subsidy will shrink over the years.

The “YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region brings a lot of expertise in operating successful swimming and recreation centers,” King said.

The Colorado Springs Swim School had signed a five-year agreement with the city to operate the Memorial Park rec center and the Portal and Wilson Ranch outdoor pools in 2010. In November, the city terminated that agreement, citing breach of contract following a dispute over the repayment of utilities.

The Y is charging between $5 and $7 for day passes for kids ages 10 and under and between $7 and $9 for adults at the various city-owned facilities. The fees are between .50 cents and $1 more than what the city or the swim school had charged in the past.

Day passes for families will continue to be $25 at each of the facilities.

Unlike the swim school or what the city charged at the Cottonwood Creek rec center, the Y will not offer seniors a discounted rate.

Y members will be able to use the two recreation centers at no additional charge. But season passes for the other aquatic facilities for Y members are $120 for an individual (ages 11 and up) and $175 for a family.

Season passes for non-Y members are $300 for individuals and $450 for families.

The season starts May 26 and runs until about Labor Day, if not longer, depending on the weather.

Monthly memberships to the Y include $26 for youth up to age 17, $48 for adults between 29 and 64 years old, and between $63 and $83 for families.

The Y offers financial assistance for memberships.

City of Colorado Springs maintenance worker Lloyd Nies cleans the Monument Valley Park pool Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in preparation for it’s opening Memorial Holiday weekend. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

MARK REIS

Swimmers try to beat the heat Thursday, June 16, 2011, at the Wilson Ranch Community Pool in the Rockrimmon area. Photo by CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE FILE