Leechburg Area Pool sets tentative opening date

After a shaky start to the year looking for new board members and volunteers and dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the Leechburg Area Pool has scheduled a tentative opening date.

The pool will open June 12 barring any water issues, pool board members announced on the pool’s Facebook page.

“We are very excited to be able to open and operate this summer,” pool board members wrote. “It will be a financial strain to the pool but we want to give the community something to look forward to this summer. We truly appreciate your support through the years and in return we are doing everything we can to ensure you are able to use the facilities in the safest manner possible.”

The pool will operate at limited crowd capacities and go by a reservation system, board members said. Only 80 people will be allowed at the pool at a time.

Children 17 or under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Social distancing is mandatory for all guests unless they are from the same household.

Reservations will open at 6 p.m. the day before a scheduled swim day, and will be taken using an app. No phone reservations will be taken. Instructions on how to use the app will be sent out via e-mail and shared on Facebook. Members will be allowed to schedule one swim time a day. Reservations can only be made for people listed on a membership.

Swim times will be broken up into three blocks. The blocks will last two hours and 15 minutes. The swim time schedules will be based on need. If there is a need for more swim time, the pool will offer a fourth time slot.

There will be 35 guaranteed member spots and 45 non-member spots per time slot. Admission is $6 for non-members.

Guests will have roughly an hour and 45 minutes to swim. The first 15 minutes of swim time will be used for check-in. The last 15 minutes will be used to clear the pool.

The kitchen will not be open.

The pool board acknowledged the new rules might upset some members. Because of that, they will give refunds.

“You have the option to ask for a refund prior to Opening Day if you are unhappy with the new rules,” board members said. “Unfortunately, once we open we will not be giving refunds due to closures beyond our control.”

Earlier this year, pool board members said they would dissolve the pool if new volunteers and board members weren’t found. They voted to keep the pool open after enough people stepped up to help.

Board members later vowed open to the pool this year, even if it was for an abbreviated season, as pools around the region grappled with the uncertainty of the pandemic restrictions.

“Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate these uncharted waters,” board members said.