Greensburg likely to suspend pool opening, future of swim season in doubt

Greensburg officials next week will likely vote to suspend the opening of Veterans’ Memorial Pool. Whether it will open at all this summer is in doubt because of the uncertain future of coronavirus mitigation efforts.

City pool manager Trudy Ivory said current state restrictions wouldn’t allow the pool to open, and it’s unclear when they will be lifted.

Even once it is allowed to open, there will likely be many required or recommended safety precautions that will make operating the pool difficult, according to Ivory.

The Centers for Disease Control recommend public pools set a limit of 50 swimmers at a time, Ivory told city council members Monday at a livestreamed agenda meeting.

Social distancing guidelines will remain in effect — and will be difficult to enforce in a rowdy public pool.

“None of that sounds like an easy process to me,” Ivory said.

Council members agreed that opening the pool while abiding by the guidelines might not be feasible.

“How do you tell children that they have to stay 6 feet apart?” asked councilwoman Cheryl Lennert.

Chlorine kills coronavirus, but the pool’s splash pad and waterslides use unchlorinated water, Ivory said. Pool staff would also need to regularly disinfect the changing rooms and other public areas.

Cost is an issue as well. Fewer swimmers means less income, but the city’s expenses for chlorine, lifeguards and other essentials will remain pretty much the same, Ivory said.

“If you can only let 50 people in there, I don’t even know if we’ll make enough in a day to cover our employees,” Lennert said.

Mayor Robb Bell said the financial consideration is especially important now, as the economic shocks of coronavirus-related shutdowns are expected to reduce municipal income.

“We can’t afford to lose money right now,” he said.

The city traditionally opens the pool on the last day of school at Greensburg Salem School District — which this year would have been May 28, though all Pennsylvania schools are closed for the rest of the academic year because of the virus.

Suspending that date seems unavoidable, and it’s unclear when — or if — the pool will open this year, according to council members.

“I think the decision has kind of been made for us,” councilman Randy Finfrock said.

Veterans Memorial Pool was closed in 2018 as the city prepared for a $987,000 renovation project.

Most public pools in the area have not yet decided what they will do this year, Ivory said, although Youngwood Park & Pool announced on Facebook that it still plans to open in June.

Council will vote at its regular meeting Monday, which will be conducted on videoconferencing site Zoom and streamed on the city’s Facebook page.