SALT LAKE CITY — Those who may have hoped to take advantage of a traditional Memorial Day start to the summer outdoor swimming season with a family holiday plunge will need to keep those flippers and goggles in the closet for just a bit longer.
The nine outdoor pools operated by Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, which include popular facilities like the Steiner Aquatic Center and Liberty Park Pool, will remain closed throughout the holiday weekend. Right now, the county is shooting for bringing those swimming pools back online on July 1, but a spokesman said that date could change as COVID-19-related restrictions and guidance from state officials and health authorities continue to be updated and modified.
The 20-plus recreation facilities operated by the county have been shuttered since mid-March, and the current projected schedule calls for some rec center activities to become available again on Monday, June 1.
A county parks and recreation spokesman said initial reopening could include limits on the number of people in any one facility, a reservation system to help manage those numbers, and a phased approach with different locations opening at different times. Currently, some county rec centers are in areas rated low-risk, or “yellow,” by state officials, while others are located in “orange,” moderate-risk zones.
“(After reopening) our patrons can expect to enjoy the amenities we provide, yet in a different way,” the spokesman said. “Our modified operations plans reflect the recommendations articulated in the Utah Leads Together Plan and will be approved through the Salt Lake County Health Department.”
Under the state’s orange or moderate risk guidelines, only single-swimmer lap swimming is allowed with no “congregating” on pool decks. Under “yellow” or low-risk rules, “open plunge” swimming is allowed at a reduced capacity that “enables appropriate social distancing to be maintained between household groups on pool decks.”
While a few members are already making waves in the outdoor pool at Salt Lake’s I.J. & Jeanne Wagner Jewish Community Center, the facility is limiting access to just lap swimmers right now and hasn’t yet scheduled a date for open swim, which typically debuts on Memorial Day.
The center, located north of the University of Utah Hospital campus, had also been closed since mid-March but relaunched on a limited hours/limited access basis on May 18.
Jewish Community Center Executive Director Andrea Alcabes said the facility, located within the “orange”/moderate-risk Salt Lake City zone, is closely following state health guidelines and also consulted a physician to establish a screening protocol that includes a temperature check and symptom Q&A that is required of everyone entering the center.
“We’re interpreting the guidance very strictly,” Alcabes said. “We want to ensure we’re being as safe as possible on behalf of our employees and members.”
Those precautions, Alcabes said, extend to limitations on the number of people allowed into the center to use health/fitness equipment as well as the indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Reservations are required and workouts are limited to 50 minutes. Alcabes said fitness and weight training equipment has been redistributed to establish ample social distancing and some equipment has been deployed in the center’s gymnasium to help accommodate the extra spacing.
Locker rooms have been closed but pre- and post-pool showers for swimmers are available on the pool decks.
Alcabes said the center has been working hard to navigate the fast-evolving COVID-19 public health guidance issued by state officials and has had to suspend a good deal of regular offerings, including its popular summer camp programs.
Alcabes said the center has also allowed members to freeze their monthly fees or cancel them without penalty.
For now, the facility is thinking about ways of bringing open swim options back online when the current moderate risk restrictions ease and those plans may include an option for families or household groups to reserve pool time.
So far, Alcabes said that members were being great about carefully following guidance while at the center and she was looking forward to taking further steps toward returning to more normal operations.
“For now, we’re being as fastidious as possible about our screening and sanitation processes,” Alcabes said. “We know many people need their workouts to maintain sanity ... and while many people are still understandably scared, those using the center have been very grateful.
“We’re looking forward to being able to open up more as restrictions continue to ease and working to get back to ... our full capacity.”