Features

First One Down The Line

Published: Aug 10, 2026 7:00 am

Oliver Manne drops into the water after being the first person to use a brand-new piece of equipment at the Treadwell Park pool on July 31. Oliver’s name was drawn from a collection of 30 fellow day campers who qualified for the honor of being the first on the new amenity. —Bee Photo, Hicks

Oliver Manne dropped into the water after being the first person to use a brand-new piece of equipment at the Treadwell Park. Oliver’s name was drawn from a collection of 30 fellow day campers late last Friday morning, July 31.

Ahead of the Day Camp Open Swim that day, campers and counselors gathered under the gazebo along the southern pool deck, enjoying some shade while First Selectman Bruce Walczak selected one slip of paper from a jar holding the names of those eligible for the honor of the first run on Aqua Zip’N. Campers had to be able to swim in the pool’s deep end, without a life jacket, to be considered for the honor.

Being first in line meant Oliver was not only first on the brand-new equipment — not even the camp counselors and lifeguards had been allowed to give it a trail run — it also meant the young swimmer had the calm, empty pool to himself for a few minutes. The Town pool closes to the public for an hour during summer camp season, giving campers 60 minutes of open swim time. Cool, clear water waited below him as Oliver confidently grabbed the blue knotted rope, hopped into the air, and swung out over the pool. A loud roar followed him, with campers, counselors and adults all cheering the successful launch.

A new concrete section has been installed on the pool deck to support the equipment by Poolside Adventures, which describes the equipment as an exhilarating poolside attraction that combines the thrill of an adventure zip line with rope swinging.

A spokesperson from Poolside Adventures confirmed to The Newtown Bee that Newtown’s Aqua Zip’N is the first to be installed in Connecticut.

A line of campers quickly fell in place after Oliver's initial run on the new equipment July 31, with many young boys and girls ready to join the fun. As she had done a few minutes earlier, Waterfront Director Diane Sarna explained how to safely use the machine. Swimmer after swimmer began taking their own turns on the new attraction.

Oliver’s official response after climbing out of the pool that Friday afternoon? “OMG that was fun!”

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.

Oliver Manne drops into the water after his name was selected to give him the honor of being the first person to use a brand-new piece of equipment at the Treadwell Park pool on July 31. —Bee Photo, Hicks

—Bee Photo, Hicks

Grayson Engelke is momentarily airborne after letting go of the rope on the Aqua Zip'N Friday afternoon, July 31, the first day the new equipment was available to the public at Treadwell Park pool. —Bee Photo, Hicks

First Selectman Bruce Walczak unravels the paper pulled from a jar held by Parks & Rec Assistant Director-Recreation Connor Negri containing the names of campers hoping to be the first to use the brand-new water feature at Treadwell Park pool. —Bee Photo, Hicks

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