Fayetteville Public Pools See Over 10,000 People In First Week

The Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation pools saw quite the turnout just one week after officially opening for the summer season. Over 10,000 people cooled off in the four main Fayetteville public pools, and they're only getting started!

Between the dates of May 27 to June 2, a total of 10,428 people visited the Fayetteville-Cumberland pool sites. Between all four public pools in the Fayetteville area, Lake Rim Aquatic Park had the most first week visitors, which accounted for nearly half the combined total at 4,198.

In a news release on the city of Fayetteville's official website, The Aquatics Coordinator of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Katie Smart explained the recent popularity of the public pool openings.

"It’s great for children of all ages, giving them the opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy their summer vacation," Smart said. "For smaller kids, and those who just want to be outside and get cooled off, I strongly recommend our splash pads. They are safe and fun."

All four public pools in Fayetteville are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday from 1 PM to 6 PM. This schedule will run until the final day of the swimming season on Labor Day, September 2.

The cost for Fayetteville residents age 12 and under is $1, and $2 for residents age 13 and up. Non-residents will need to pay $2 for age 12 and under, and $4 for age 13 and up.

Here are the four main Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation pools:

You can also find splash pad locations throughout the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area here on the city park's website.

U.S. News & World Report has released their new Best Places to Live rankings for 2024-2025, and the Tar Heel state got some major love! In a list of 150 major cities, two North Carolina cities were ranked among the top 10 best places to live in the US.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the ranking was compiled using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor, and some of the publication's own internal resources. The data was then sorted into four different categories by which each major city would be scored.

The categories were assigned different weights depending on how strongly Americans felt each factor mattered when choosing a place to live. The four categories in order of weight are as follows:

According to the official rankings, Charlotte and Raleigh are the two best places to live in North Carolina. The two cities made it to #5 and #6 respectively.

Charlotte scored extremely well overall, with the Queen City's quality of life and economic value placing it among the top places in the country to live. Charlotte was also commended for its sprawling metro area and bustling downtown scene, while still maintaining its southern charm.

Raleigh ranked almost neck-and-neck with Charlotte, with North Carolina's capital scoring highly in the Quality of Life category. The publication highlights Raleigh's bustling art and music scenes, as well as its beautiful green spaces and activity space. The city of Raleigh also received high marks for its strong sense of community among the residents.

The full rankings (seen here) reveals some interesting information about other major cities in the US, including other cities in North Carolina. Here are some of the key takeaways.

Ranked #1 overall, Naples, Florida was determined to be the best city to live in the US. The city scored highly for its overall quality of life, especially among retirees who desire a pristine beachfront view in their twilight years.

It's certainly a surprising #2, but Boise, Idaho has much to offer for outdoorsy types. Boise offers a plethora of different terrains for adventurers, including mountain ranges, canyons, deserts and lakes.

Colorado Springs, Colorado was ranked as the #3 best place to live for its blend of natural beauty and rustic modernism. Despite its endless array of events and activities, Colorado Springs maintains a small town charm that residents find intoxicating.

North Carolina's sister state did just a hair better in the ranking, with the South Carolina city of Greenville landing at #4 in the overall ranking. Greenville's downtown area is a central hub for local businesses, bars, restaurants and boutiques. The city is also quite lively during the summer season.

- Asheville (#17)

-Greensboro (#23) 

-Hickory (#26)

-Winston-Salem (#60)

-Fayetteville (#113)