Pool operators wait for state guidelines, look forward to 'normal' season

After some community swimming pools closed last summer because of the coronavirus pandemic, operators continue waiting this year for the state to offer guidance on how they can open.

“It’s a very frustrating situation. It’s going to be a very fluid season,” said Janet Shork, who oversees Crabapple Park & Pool near Herminie in her role as director of Sewickley Township Parks & Recreation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has yet to issue revised guidelines for pool operations, although Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that all covid-19 mitigation orders will be lifted on Memorial Day. The state’s orders for people to wear masks will be dropped once 70% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated, Wolf said.

“We’re just waiting for the guidelines to see what they will let us do,” said Nancy Molovich, president of the West Newton Community Pool board.

Molovich said they hope to open the pool May 29 for the Memorial Day weekend, as long as the pumps and filters that were not used last year are in operating condition.

But, pool operators who want to take advantage of the traditional beginning of the summer season on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend would have to open under current mitigation measures, unless told otherwise. That means limits on capacity remain in place for restaurants and outdoor events.

With capacity limited to 50%, Molovich said they have sufficient space for 75 people.

A health department spokesman said guidance for pool operators is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Because students will still be in school in early June, Crabapple Park & Pool will open Memorial Day weekend, close during the week, then reopen June 5, Shork said.

Veterans Memorial Pool at Greensburg’s Lynch Field will open June 4 — the last day of school for Greensburg-Salem students, said Glenn Moyer, director of the city’s facilities.

City workers painted the pool and pumped in 300,000 gallons of water as well as cleaned the restrooms and other facilities, Moyer said.

The pool underwent renovations the past few years, with three water slides, a splash pool, zip line and a handicapped accessible area added, Moyer said.

“We’re hoping we can get back to normal,” Moyer said.

The pool closed for renovations in 2018, reopened in 2019, and then remained closed in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The Rogers-McFeely Memorial Pool at Legion Keener Park in Latrobe will get back to normal operations June 5, said Trey Hudock, program manager at Latrobe-GLSD (Greater Latrobe School District) Parks and Recreation.

The pool opened last July for an abbreviated season, Hudock said.

Operators of the Youngwood Park & Pool also hope to open June 5.

Another impact of the pandemic is a lack of lifeguards, Molovich and Shork said.

Because many pools were closed last year and lifeguarding classes were canceled, prospective guards could not get certified and others could not get recertified, Shork said.

“Everybody is struggling” to find lifeguards, Shork said, adding that it has nothing to do with pay. The township’s recreation department is offering to pay a portion of the certification lesson costs. Without more lifeguards, Shork said they have had to cut back on pool parties, where a lifeguard is required.

Greensburg was able to find the lifeguards it needs, Moyer said.

Even if the governor relaxes the capacity restrictions, Shork said she believes they still may impact the operations of the concessions stand, which prohibit them from preparing food in the kitchen.

“We’re still under the current guidelines. All food has to be pre-packaged,” Shork said.