Temperatures in the mid 50s brought out the largest turnout ever for the Polar Bear Plunge. Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Director Lanny Goodwin (right photo) told WGNS News that approximately 600 to 700 persons took place in the ninth annual event at the outdoor SportsCom pool. There were so many jumpers that it took two waves with the first at 10:00 o'clock Saturday morning (1/7/2012) and the second leap a few minutes later.

Goodwin said:  

Goodwin said that even though the outside temps were more pleasant that the icy conditions of last year, the water was in the mid 40s after ice was added to the pool. 

There was no fee charged. Instead Polar Bear Plungers brought non-perishable food items to go to needy families through the Murfreesboro City School program. 

The activities started at 8:30 Saturday morning inside SportsCom where inflatibles, displays from earlier Polar Bear Plunges and other activities occured. Then at 10:00 o'clock the participants paraded outside and made the walk to the pool where Vice Mayor Chris Bratcher did the countdown for the jump. In fact, there were so many participants this year that two plunges occured, just minutes apart. 

Participants could actually stay in the pool, and this year, surprisingly many did. They were enjoying the giant water slides, jumping from diving boards and playing under the huge water buckets that dump on those standing below. 
 

And the crowd seemed to linger longer in the pool. In fact, there was a line waiting to enjoy the giant slide into the pool (see above photo).

Even the giant buckets dumping icy water on the kids was a popular site at Saturday morning's Polar Bear Plunge (see above photo).  

L-R above (1) man leaps from diving board into pool, (2) Grim Reaper welcomes jumpers, (3) look at the expressions on faces as they hit the water.