Summer is heating up, but Fulton residents will soon be able to cool down at the pool and splash pad.
During Tuesday evening's Fulton City Council meeting, council members OK'd Parks and Recreation Department plans to open the Oestreich Swimming Complex on June 5, barring maintenance issues - with a lengthy list of precautions in place. The Memorial Park Splash Pad will open on the same date.
Parks and Recreation Director Clay Caswell said he's spent the last several weeks in meetings with other parks and recreation directors around the area.
"Everyone's waiting to see what everyone else is doing," he said. "Some pools are staying closed for safety or financial reasons."
During the May 12 board meeting, Caswell expressed concern the city wouldn't be able to hire enough lifeguards to open the pool. Luckily, that concern didn't bear out, he said.
"We were able to interview enough staff, though we haven't offered jobs to anyone yet," he said Tuesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued specific regulations for pools and other aquatic venues including increased cleaning, maintaining social distancing and discouraging use of shared objects (bit.ly/2XGiWaK).
"There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of recreational waters," the CDC claims, though the page also clarifies the disease can spread through the air, especially when patrons are in close proximity to each other. The CDC recommends pool patrons wear face masks when not in the water.
Fulton's Parks and Recreation Department's proposed policies reflect the CDC's guidelines and other common-sense measures.
The pool, at 3 Hornet Drive, will be open from noon-3 p.m., closed 3-3:45 p.m. for cleaning, and open 4-7 p.m. Admission costs $5 for adults, $4 for students (K-12), $3 for lap swimmers and $2 for children ages 5 and younger. Season passes and $30 10-admission punch cards are available.
Occupancy will be limited to 65 swimmers and viewers. Each visitor will have to give their name and number upon admission to enable contact tracing should an outbreak occur.
To limit the potential spread of the disease via surfaces, the drinking fountain will be turned off, the slide and diving board will be closed, and lounge chairs and picnic tables will be removed from the deck. Patrons may bring their own chairs and beach towels. The concession stand will sell only prepackaged food and drinks.
"Parents, adults and older children are going to need to show accountability for the children who go there," Ward 2 Councilman Jeff Stone said. "We already have rules at the pool - this is just a few more."
Other measures focus on keeping staff safe. Plexiglass barriers have been installed at points where guests and staff interact. Staff will be provided with personal protective equipment, including gloves and masks. Lifeguards will sanitize the lifeguard stand between uses, and lifeguard training has been adjusted to include information about how to use PPE while performing lifesaving measures.
Jefferson City's two pools are putting similar measures in place, though their slides will remain open (bit.ly/2ZJkgfJ).
No final decision has been made about whether to host swim lessons or the Fins Swim Team, Caswell said Thursday.
Splash pad
Much discussion Tuesday centered around whether to open the Memorial Park Splash Pad.
Caswell has expressed reluctance to do so, on the grounds the splash pad is unmonitored and prone to crowding. The splash pad is typically open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Ward 3 Councilman John Braun suggested installing temporary fencing around the pad and hiring someone to monitor it and limit the number of patrons.
"What you'd have is someone constantly yelling at the kids to get away from each other," Caswell said. "If the bucket is dumping over here, 10 kids are going to run there."
He noted the potential expense of paying for someone to staff the pad 77 hours a week. He also noted any barrier might also be expensive and difficult to install, given the "tremendous amount" of pipes under the ground.
"If we fence it, we have to staff it, and it's probably not going to be a fun job," Caswell said.
City Council members suggested reducing the splash pad's hours and using the freestanding metal barriers the city often erects downtown during special events.
Ward 1 Councilman Ballard Simmons suggested a more relaxed approach.
"Why not let it go as is, and if an inordinate number of people show up, we can start implementing restrictions," he said.
As of Thursday, Caswell said, the city did not plan to install a barrier or staff the splash pad.
Director of Administration Bill Johnson pointed out overcrowding might not be as much of an issue as feared. Some parents will opt to keep their children home, he said.
"You don't have to go," Caswell agreed.