The pool at the New Holland Community Memorial Park Pool did not open by Memorial Day weekend as it has in the past, but it did open shortly thereafter. According to Leo Ward, pool manager with the park, the opening occurred on June 6, which was as soon as the pool and personnel could be ready after the facility was closed under COVID-19 restrictions in March.
"Around the end of March there was a period where we shut down working at the park for two to three weeks," said Ward, who noted that repair work began again in April and that lifeguards age 18 and older were back on board in early May. In late May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for public pools. The Pennsylvania Department of Health informed pools that the CDC guidelines and state business guidelines should be followed. "(At the same time), the American Red Cross came out with guidelines for swimming pools and specifically for lifeguarding," said Ward.
Pool staff members have posted the guidelines that apply to those who visit the pool on signs near the front entrance. Those who have a temperature greater than 100.4, a sore throat, shortness of breath, a persistent cough, chills, headache, problems with taste or smell, muscle pain, or close contact with another with those symptoms or who is a known COVID-19 patient are asked not to enter.
For those who do visit the pool, the main guidelines include wearing masks while in the building and maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others. Also, it is recommended that nonslip footwear be worn in the building. Visitors must also sign a waiver specifically related to the possibility of catching coronavirus.
According to Ward, lifeguards are disinfecting the area around the pool and inside where the vending machines are located when they arrive each morning and up to four times throughout the day. "We have removed all the picnic tables because they were difficult to disinfect," said Ward.
The baby pool for children age 6 and under located adjacent to the main pool required additional instructions. "Because of the size of our baby pool, we have social distancing blocks around it," said Ward. The blocks mark off six spots where parents may sit. Adults must accompany children at all times to assist with social distancing, and the lifeguards may assign time blocks for using the pool if necessary.
Ward noted that there is a benefit to having a pool membership. Under current guidelines, once the pool reaches 45% capacity, only pool members are admitted until the limit is reached. Ward said the pool opened during a week when weather was especially warm. "The first week we were open, we were busy," he said. He noted that on the busiest day, more than 400 people visited the pool area. "Typically, at 4 p.m., people who have been here most of the day leave to go home," he said, pointing out that the pool never breached its capacity. Ward noted that pool staff members are careful to track the number of patrons. "The cashier has a counter (to track those) who leave," he noted. "If it gets too busy up front, the lifeguard on first aid duty keeps track." He added that sometimes the staff members ask people if they are leaving for the day or going to their car to get something. "If the whole family is walking out with their chairs, it's obvious," he said with a chuckle.
The New Holland Park, located in the 400 block of Jackson Street, New Holland, has been a fixture in the borough for a long time, with the park association first being incorporated in 1954. Readers who would like more information about the facility may visit http://newhollandborough.org/poolpark/ or search for "New Holland Community Memorial Pool" on Facebook.
Leave a Review