Greensburg pool to remain closed for season

Veterans’ Memorial Pool in Greensburg will not open this season.

The city announced the decision on Facebook Tuesday.

There are several reasons for the closure, all of them related to the coronavirus pandemic.

CDC guidelines suggest swimmers should maintain 6 feet of social distancing even when in the water, which would be nearly impossible to enforce in the usually crowded public pool, according to city officials.

Limiting the number of swimmers would leave the pool without enough income to function, according to the city recreation department.

The city also received fewer lifeguard applications than is required to staff the pool.

This is the second summer in three years that Veterans’ Memorial Pool has been closed. It did not open in 2018 because it was undergoing a $987,000 renovation project.

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.

Local public pools have responded in different ways to coronavirus. Some have decided to remain closed all season, including all pools operated by Allegheny County. Others are planning a delayed opening as they await the lifting of state restrictions, including Youngwood Park N Pool.