Latrobe swimming pool to open with mask, social distancing requirements

Latrobe’s Rogers McFeely Memorial Pool will open for public swimming at noon Friday.

The opening was delayed for several weeks because of the covid-19 pandemic. Patrons are being asked to observe social distancing and to wear face coverings in certain areas to help prevent spread of the covid-19 virus.

“People are going to have to wear masks while they’re waiting to enter the pool,” including when they check in at the admissions desk, said Craig Shevchik, director of Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation. Face coverings also will be required when using the pool’s rest rooms and changing rooms but not elsewhere on the pool grounds.

Banners will be displayed to remind people of the 6 feet of social distancing recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to Shevchik, a roving staffer will be charged with cautioning patrons who aren’t maintaining that distance and with wiping down high-touch surfaces including ladders, slide and diving board handles, paper towel and soap dispensers, umbrellas, life guard chairs and rescue tubes.

The recreation board invested about $12,000 to bring the facility in line with health guidelines, including renovating rest rooms to allow touchless operation of toilets and sinks.

An existing system for tracking the number of patrons at the pool will be used to limit attendance to a maximum of 250 at a time, Shevchik said.

Because of covid-19 precautions, the baby pool, showers and water fountains will remain closed and deck chairs and pool toys won’t be provided, though patrons may bring their own. The pool is not available to rent for private occasions.

“We did a lot of hard work behind the scenes to try to get this pool open,” said Shevchik. “We’re glad people are interested and hope they’ll come out.”

Because of the late opening, the rates for season passes have been discounted by $20, to $140 for a family of four residing in the city and to $50 for a student. Passes may be obtained 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays at the parks and recreation office in the city municipal building on Jefferson Street.

The pool will be open noon to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 5:30 p.m. on weekends. Daily admission costs $7, $5 after 4:30 p.m.

Swim lessons and tennis lessons are slated to begin on July 8, while instructional baseball for ages 4-6 will begin July 1. Visit latroberecreation.org to register and for more information.