Swimming pools across Western Pa. looking to dive in when allowed

While some pools across the region have already decided to remain closed, including at least one in the Alle-Kiski Valley, others remain in a holding pattern in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Springdale Township’s Bouquet Park Pool will not open this year — and could possibly close for good, after it failed to attract enough members to stay financially afloat.

“Due to the exceptional circumstances we are facing with covid-19, and paid memberships lagging behind the 250 needed to move forward, the Bouquet Park Pool Board has made the very difficult decision to close the pool indefinitely,” the board posted on the pool’s Facebook page.

The Youngwood Park & Pool has never closed in its 59-year history, and this year will be no different, if given the choice, said board president Ed Christofano. Plans are to open sometime in June, depending on state orders.

“It’s been a staple for us in the Youngwood community, so we want to make sure that we are able to go when we’re able to,” he said.

Volunteers will be back at the pool Friday to continue preparing the property to open, which can take up to two months.

“It’s a waiting game,” Christofano said. “The most important thing is, even if we are given the green light to open, we have to make sure that all the prep work is done in advance to make that happen, so we are still working behind the scenes with a very limited crew, still maintaining the social distancing.”

Greensburg plans to make a decision on opening the Veterans’ Memorial Pool at Lynch Field in the next few weeks, said Trudy Ivory, the city’s recreation facility manager. Factors such as social distancing and safety will be key considerations.

“How do you manage X amount of people at a time?” she said, noting that tickets allow people to stay at the pool for most of the day. “We really want to make the right decision.”

Sylvan Park Pool in Harrison and Leechburg Area Pool in Gilpin plan to open this year but are waiting on guidelines and recommendations from health officials.

“Whatever guidelines the Centers for Disease Control and the Health Department issue for us is what we have to follow,” said Patrick Bundy, Sylvan Park Pool board president. “We’re going to have to wait and see just what happens and then plan from there.”

Sylvan Park Pool typically opens Memorial Day weekend. Officials didn’t have a set opening day as of Wednesday, but Bundy said volunteers are prepping the pool as normal.

“It’s planned as usual just to have the pool ready,” Bundy said.

Leechburg Area Pool was originally set to open May 23, but its pool board indicated that might be delayed because the pandemic pushed back preseason preparations. Pool Board Vice President Christy Henry said the pool has been cleaned, but it still needs to be painted. Volunteers can’t do that until the pool is allowed to open. No opening date has been decided.

“Everything depends on what Gov. Wolf says,” Henry said.

Plans for Joseph A. Petrarca Memorial Pool in Vandergrift won’t be decided until council meets Monday.

Beyond pools, plans to open area spray parks and wave pools remain up in the air.

No opening date had been set for Tarentum’s Riverview Memorial Spray Park, but borough officials anticipate residents will be able to use it this summer.

The spray park typically opens in early May. Borough parks have remained open during the pandemic with no problems.

“We hope to be the least restrictive as possible with any rules or regulations, allowing the public to use their own judgment when visiting our parks and playgrounds,” said Mike Nestico, borough manager. “Any gatherings in the park have been done at proper social distance, and we would expect more of the same with the spray park and playground facilities.”

Boyce Park Wave Pool in Plum and Deer Lakes Spray Park in West Deer normally open the first Saturday in June. Because of covid-19, county officials haven’t determined when those will open this year.

“We will follow guidelines from the state and county health departments regarding the operation of these facilities once they are released,” said Kevin Evanto, Allegheny County Parks spokesman.

The parks department is looking for lifeguards and moving forward with recruitment efforts so the guards can be hired, trained and prepared for whenever the pools are allowed to open. More information on lifeguards can be found at alleghenycounty.us/lifeguards.