The first technical day of summer may be June 21, but it certainly didn’t seem that far off Tuesday at the Albert Lea city pool.

The pool opened for the season Saturday and has new pool hours this season. The pool is open from 1 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There’s also a lap swim available for adults from 9 to 10 a.m. weekdays.

Pool manager Brody Sundblad said the new hours are meant to make it easier for parents to come to the pool with their children during the week.

Sundblad said lessons are available throughout the season, which wraps up the week before Labor Day. Families looking into swimming lessons for children can contact Parks and Recreation at 507-377-4370.

The aquatic center has a number of attractions for children, with waterfalls, diving boards and a water slide that spans more than 200 feet.

For friends and swimmers Caleb Butler, 9, and Dominik Ringoen, 12, the water slide is the best part of coming to the pool.

“The slide’s the coolest part,” said Butler. “Definitely, definitely, definitely.”

“You get to go really, really fast, all the way down!” said an excited Ringoen.

The two boys weren’t the only ones who favored the slide, as the attraction had a constant line going down its staircase Tuesday afternoon.