Public Pools Will Start Reopening In Nyc
Photo of Astoria Pool by Global Jet via Flickr cc
Just in time for the end of the current heatwave, New York City will reopen 15 of its free, public swimming pools. Eight pools will open this Friday, July 24, and the rest will reopen on Saturday, August 1. The Parks Department says that all pool-goers must maintain social distance and wear face coverings at all times when not in the water.
In total, the city has 53 public pools across the five boroughs. At the height of the coronavirus crisis in April, Mayor de Blasio announced that all public pools would be closed for the entire summer, in an effort to save $12 million on the city budget. However, as the Post reported, last month, the mayors administration and the City Council agreed to restore $9.9 million to the Parks Department budget to hire 716 lifeguards, pools staff and fund sprinklers and water fountains.
The pools that will open on July 24 are:
- Tottenville Pool in Tottenville, Staten Island
The pools that will open on August 1 are:
- Astoria Pool in Astoria, Queens
The opening date for Hamilton Fish Pool on the Lower East Side in Manhattan is still TBD.
All swim and exercise classes at pools have been cancelled for the summer. Outdoor pool hours are from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. daily, with a break for pool cleaning between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Outdoor pools are open through September 7, 2020.
RELATED:
or
A Lifeguard At Kelly Pool
Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn email newsletter to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day.
After a year without public pools, it seems like Philadelphians can look forward to cooling off with a neighborhood swim again this summer. City officials arent ready to fully commit to a schedule, but they did put out the call for lifeguards which is a pretty good sign.
Parks & Recreation is hiring lifeguards in anticipation of a 2021 pool season, department spokesperson Maita Soukup confirmed to Billy Penn.
Philadelphia has 76 public pools, which usually begin opening around the middle of June. Not last year.
It was mid-April when officials revealed that the onset of the pandemic was likely to leave the city with a $650 million budget hole, and that major cutbacks would be necessary. Alas, they announced, there would be no neighborhood swimming that summer. It made a hard summer even tougher for many residents.
With no public poolsmy children really had a hard time being their usual self, said Latrisha Brown, a mother of three who lives in South Philadelphia.
Things look brighter for this season, though its unclear when the pools might open, or how many of them will be able to welcome swimmers. Additional information on the citys summer plans will be available in the coming weeks, said Soukup, the Parks & Rec spokesperson.
Wearing A Mask In City Facilities
Masks must be worn in enclosed public spaces, including when entering the facility, in common areas, lobbies, washrooms, change rooms and hallways, as mandated by province-wide masking regulations.
We require that all clients wear masks except while exercising. Only the following programs, activities and individuals are exempt from the mask requirement:
- Swimming: masks may be removed when entering the water but are required in other areas of the building.
- Arenas: A mask is required at all times except while on the ice surface.
- Children under the age of 5 years chronologically or developmentally, who refuses to wear a mask and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver.
- Individuals with medical conditions or disabilities rendering them unable to safely wear a mask.
- Individuals who are unable to put on or remove their mask without assistance.
Those who are exempt need to let staff know at the entrance during the screening process and let us know how they meet one of the exceptions listed above. They may be asked to use a face shield if their circumstance allows.
Additional safety measures at City pools
When you come to an aquatic facility, youre going to notice several changes we have made to ensure we live up to our commitment to keep everyone safe, including:
Additional safety measures at City fitness facilities
Participants may remove their masks and store them in a safe/secure space while actively engaged in an athletic or fitness activity, or when outdoors.
Don’t Miss: Homemade Swimming Pool Ideas
Puerto Rican Day Parade
On Sunday, June 12, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade will celebrate 65 years of highlighting the rich array of Puerto Rican culture after a two-year hiatus. The procession that takes place along Fifth Avenue will feature U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as Grand Marshall. Nicky Jam will also help lead the procession and will be honored as â2022 King.â Other honorees include rapper Fat Joe & radio host Angie Martinez.
Life Jackets And Pool Toys
Lifejackets, personal floatation devices, water wings, “pool noodles” and other floatation devices do not keep you safe in the pool. This equipment can be fun, but it is not a replacement for adult supervision!
Lifejackets and personal floatation devices must fit correctly to work. We don’t recommend water wings as they can deflate or slip, leaving a child dangling under water.
Read Also: How To Heat Your Above Ground Pool
Swimming Beaches Opening In Toronto This Month
Toronto Mayor John Tory announced SwimTO this week, which will be expediting the opening of Torontos beaches, outdoor pools, wading pools, and splash pads.
Outdoor aquatic amenities are now being prepared by City staff to help people cool down during hot summer temperatures, once Toronto enters Stage 2 of the provincial reopening.
The goal when it comes to recreational access to water amenities is very simple: get everything ready so we can open them up as fast and as safely as possible once we get the green light from the province, said Tory. SwimTO is one more example of the Citys commitment to residents and will help mitigate the hot temperatures we will experience this summer. I encourage Torontonians to explore the Citys many options to swim and cool off outdoors this summer.
This Monday, Ontario Premier announced the commencement of Stage 2, as a part of the provinces reopening plan. However, Toronto was not included. The Toronto Public Health region is expected to move into Stage 2 at a later date.
Once Stage 2 begins in the City and Toronto begins to reopen, SwimTO is planned to ensure that Toronto residents can safely access aquatic recreation.
According to the City, there are plans to open outdoor aquatic amenities, when permitted, to prevent any heat related illnesses. The opening plans are also in place to continue to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The beaches that will be opening on June 22 are:
- Sunnyside Beach
- Woodbine Beach
Queens Pools Reopening For Summer 2020 Swimming
19th Street and 23rd DriveReopens Saturday, August 1, 2020Located right on the water and near the RFK Bridge, this park boasts the city’s largest public swimming pool. Surrounded by concrete bleachers, it was constructed in 1936 and is 330-feet long, about the length of a city block! The pool has distinct roped-off sections, including a wading area for little kids.
173rd Street at 106th AvenueReopens Friday, July 24, 2020This pool, in Detective Keith L. Williams Park, isn’t the largest on our list, but a lovely wading pool accompanies it. Liberty Pool is another one of the city’s Cool Pools, so you’re surrounded by brightly hued signs, and umbrellas provide a bit of shade.
10. Fisher Pool East Elmhurst99th Street at 32nd AvenueReopens Saturday, August 1, 2020If the intermediate-sized pool here isn’t enough to cool you off, maybe the arctic-inspired mural with penguins and an igloo will.
Crotona Pool has a spectacular sprayground and spacious, Olympic-sized pool. Photo courtesy of NYC Landmarks
Read Also: Is Mandalay Bay Pool Open
Will Public Pools Open At All This Summer Metro Cities Weigh Their Options
May 1, 2020 / 08:56 PM CDT
May 1, 2020 / 08:56 PM CDT
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. The unofficial start to summer is approaching quickly.
However, Memorial Day 2020 may not include the opening of public swimming pools in some parts of the metro.
FOX4 talked with parks and recreation officials on both sides of the state line, some of whom are concerned their pools may not open at all this year.
One city leader described the quandary of keeping people safe versus opening pools like sticking square pegs into round holes.
In Overland Park, the citys interim public parks director, Bryan Toben, said he plans to present OPs community development committee on Monday with two plans for pools.
Toben said one option is not opening them at all. The other involves operating only one pool, Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center, and limiting the number of people who can use it between extensive sessions of disinfecting.
Toben said hes also need to hire extra staff since lifeguards cant be assigned to enforce social distancing rules.
Having the staff go through and wiping everything down, we gave ourselves an hour, hoping thats more than enough to be safe and cautious, Toben commented.
The Center for Disease Control reports no evidence of the coronavirus being able to live in swimming pool water.
Toben said if Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center opens for the year, thered be space for 80 people at a time in the water, maintaining social distancing guidelines in the pool.
Keep Frequently Touched Surfaces Clean
The guidelines also encouraged pool staffs to regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces on the pool deck and in the locker room, including:
- Pool ladder handles
- Door handles in locker rooms and restrooms
- Showers
- Handwashing stations
- Diaper-changing stations
For pool facilities that provide towels to patrons, the CDC advised washing in the warmest appropriate water temperature and allowing them to dry completely. It also suggested devising a system so that furniture, pool equipment and other items are disinfected before being given to the next user and are kept separate from ones that have not yet been cleaned.
The CDC also recommended no-touch trash cans.
Don’t Miss: Can Lice Swim
Public Beaches And Pools Will Open On Time This Summer Mayor Announces
NEW YORK â All eight New York City public beaches and 48 outdoor public pools will be open this summer, Mayor de Blasio announced on Wednesday.
Beaches will open on Memorial Day weekend starting on Saturday, May 29 and public pools will be open on Saturday, June 26.
âWeâre going back to the schedule we had for years and years and that is a very good sign,â de Blasio said at his daily press briefing.
He said there will still be health and safety restrictions in place, such as mask mandates when people are not in the water and social distancing.
In 2020, the opening of public beaches was delayed and the number of public pools was limited.
âThis year we get to do what is great for the families of this city, the kids of this city,â he said. âItâs a great way for families of New York City to spend their summer.â
City beaches include Orchard Beach in the Bronx, Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, Rockaway Beach in Queens and Midland Beach, South Beach, Cedar Grove Beach, and Wolfe’s Pond Park Beach on Staten Island.
Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Swim hours at public pools are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Five of the cityâs 53 outdoor pools will be closed due to active reconstruction projects.
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade
On June 18, the annual mermaid parade will be back on Coney Islandâs Surf Avenue after a two-year hiatus. The procession, which began in 1983, âbrings mythology to life for local residents who live on streets named Mermaid and Neptune,â according to the paradeâs website. Paradegoers frequently dress up in mermaid and/or sea-themed costumes.
Don’t Miss: Spiders In My Pool
Mask Up Until You Dive In
The CDC suggested that pool operators “encourage the use of cloth face coverings as feasible,” noting that they are “most essential in times when physical distancing is difficult. However, it advised that staff tell swimmers not to wear masks in the water because it is difficult to breathe through them while wet.
Important Fall 2020 Pool Information
- Reservations are available seven days in advance beginning at noon each day.
- Outdoor pools will have an abbreviated schedule and are slated to remain open through October 4, weather permitting.
- Previously purchased outdoor pools passes for the 2020 summer season will continue to be accepted at all outdoor pools for the extended summer swim season.
- Pool passes will be available for in-person purchase by Montgomery County residents only. Residents must provide proof of County residency at the time of purchase. Online pool pass sales have been suspended indefinitely.
Read Also: Cleaning Pool Plaster
What If Someone Gets Sick Or Tests Positive For Covid
Public pool operators should have a plan to isolate staff or patrons with symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath and fever, and transport them to their homes or health care provider, if needed.
At least one person should be designated as the COVID-19 point of contact. That person should respond to all virus-related concerns and all staff should know how to reach that person.
The local health authorities should also immediately be notified of any COVID-19 cases and staff and patrons should be notified of potential exposure within the boundaries of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Any employee or patron who has tested positive for COVID-19, displays symptoms or has been around anyone with the disease in the last two weeks should not enter the facility until they have safely ended their 14-day isolation.
Memorial Day Is The Unofficial Start Of Summer And The Day When Pools Typically Reopen Across Illinois But Coronavirus Is Changing That
ILLINOIS Memorial Day weekend is here, and if this were any other year, Illinois residents would be gearing up for backyard barbecues, summer parties and the reopening of public pools. But coronavirus has changed everything about the way we live our lives, and the unofficial start of summer pool season is no exception.
The state is poised to move into phase 3 of the Restore Illinois reopening plan, but the five-phase plan offers no guidelines on the reopening of public pools, and many park districts and municipalities have either canceled the summer pool season entirely or have yet to make a decision on the fate of their pools.
Illinois Coronavirus Update May 21 Don’t miss updates about precautions in Illinois as they are announced Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.
Recommended Reading: Screens To Hide Pool Equipment
Inclusive Recreation Swim Programs
- Swim for persons with a disability: Designated swim for youth and adult participants with a long-term disability. Swim is free of charge for qualifying participants upon completion of a participant information form. If assistance is required in the change room, participants must bring an attendant.
- Wellness Aqua therapy: A wellness program ideal for individuals living with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, osteoporosis and individuals recovering from injury or surgery.
- Wellness Chronic pain: A wellness program ideal for individuals living with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, osteoporosis and individuals recovering from injury or surgery.
For Pools Where These Conditions Are Applicable:
Where lifeguards are not provided or at lifeguarded pools with swim at your own risk periods:
Signs shall be posted in a conspicuous location at or near the pool entrance that state in at least four inch high letters, WARNING NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY and RISK OF DROWNING SUPERVISE CHILDREN CLOSELY. These two statements may be combined onto a single sign.
Where a pool slide is provided:
Rules with the heading Risk of Illness and Injury shall be posted at the entrance of the slide that state that the following are prohibited:
- Running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, or stopping in any flume or tunnel.
- Rough playing on the slide or feature.
- Diving or flipping while exiting from a flume or feature.
- Use of the slide while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Use of the flume or feature by more than one person at a time.
- Failure to obey the instructions of the pool attendant or lifeguard.
- Failure to keep hands inside the flume while using the slide.
- Failure to leave the fallingentry pool promptly after exiting from the slide.
- The possession of any glass, bottle or food in or near any pool.
- Entry into an area of grass or other vegetation and returning to slide, feature or pool.
- The possession of any loose objects.
- The use of any clothing other than the swimwear on the slide or feature.
- Wearing any bracelet, watch, or other jewelry.
If the pool is a spa/whirlpool:
Rules shall be posted at or near the spa that state the following:
Change of Ownership
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Cyanuric Acid In Pool
Stay 6 Feet Apart In And Out Of The Water
It also suggested that pool operators change the layout of their seating areas so that patrons can remain 6 feet away from anyone outside their household.
While in the water, swimmers should also be advised to keep the same distance from anyone they are not quarantining with.
The CDC did not address how to socially distance lap swimmers but pool operators could take a page from the guidelines published by USA Swimming, the sport’s national governing body, which suggested limiting swimmers to one or two per lane and starting them from opposite ends of the pool.
Parents should consider whether their children can or will stay 6 feet away from people they don’t live with. If not, they should not take them to the pool.
The only exceptions to the social-distancing rule, the CDC said, should be individuals involved with the evacuation of the facility in the event of an emergency or the rescue or administration of first aid or CPR to a swimmer in distress.
