Military families can take a dip in the pool for free starting Monday.

Active-duty personnel already have free access to John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool in Oak Harbor and Fidalgo Pool in Anacortes.

Now children and spouses of those personnel are free at both pools, too, thanks to an agreement between the pools and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Moral, Welfare and Recreation.

The free entry is only for open swims, which includes lap swimming. Military families must show their military identification.

Under terms of the agreement, MWR reimburses the Oak Harbor pool $2.63 per person regardless of age. Previously, military dependents paid a discounted rate of $2.50 and MWR reimbursed the pool 13 cents per person.

Regular adult admission price is $3.50 per person.

Military retirees continue to get a discounted rate of $2.50.

Some military families were struggling to pay even with the discounts, said Erika Miller, interim director of North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District, which operates the pool.

“Hopefully this will ease that financial burden and we’ll be able to serve more families,” Miller said.

More than half of pool patrons are active-duty military, dependents or military retirees, she said. In April 591 active-duty military personnel and 759 military dependents used the pool.

Pool staff said they expect the deal with drive up those numbers. Miller hired a few lifeguards and is poised to hire more if necessary.

On Tuesday morning Mike Piccone splashed in the wading pool with his sons Joey, 4, and Luke, 3.

Piccone is retired military and a stay-at-home dad.

Piccone said he believes it’s a nice benefit, especially for sailors who are single parents and military spouses raising children with a loved one deployed.

“When I’m looking for things to do in the winter with the kids this is at the top of the list,” he said.