Sylvan Park pool set to open this weekend in Harrison

The Sylvan Park swimming pool in Harrison will open Saturday, said Patrick Bundy, president of the pool’s board of directors.

That’s almost two weeks later than the pool normally would have opened.

“I’m ready for a little bit of normalcy, especially for the kids,” Bundy said. “I think they need it.”

With coronavirus-related restrictions being relaxed, pools in regions in the yellow and green phases of Pennsylvania’s reopening plan are allowed to open as long as they follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bundy said that is what Sylvan Park will be doing when the pool opens at noon Saturday. That will include asking patrons whether they have traveled outside the country, been with anyone exhibiting symptoms, been diagnosed with covid-19 or had a fever.

The pool will check employees’ temperatures but not patrons’, Bundy said.

People will be spread out at the pool’s concession areas.

Normally open from noon to 8 p.m., the pool will close at 7 p.m. for cleaning, Bundy said. Restrooms and locker rooms will be cleaned every two hours.

The tot pool will be open but not the grass area around it. The large grassy area by the main pool will be open.

Restrictions are subject to change based on governmental guidance, Bundy said.

Bundy said staffers started filling the 56-year-old, 365,000-gallon pool Tuesday. The process takes two days.

Sylvan Park is a membership pool with about 500 members, including individuals and families. A membership costs an initial buy-in of $200, and a yearly maintenance fee of $290.

Memberships are available.

Members are usually allowed to bring guests, but the pool is suspending guest entry until June 29 to ensure members can get in, Bundy said.

“This is all temporary until we see how things pan out,” he said.