GOSHEN COUNTY – State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist stamped her approval on the plan submitted by Torrington and Lingle officials to open their respective swimming pools for the 2020 season – and citizens of both towns will be able to beat the heat starting next week.
Torrington Mayor Randy Adams said on Tuesday the DJMP will be open to the public on June 17, and the Lingle pool announced on Facebook it will be opening June 15. Adams said he and other local officials met for two hours to figure out how to handle the financial burden of opening the pool, and to go over regulations handed down by Harrist.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “We just spent about two hours in a meeting with finance people and hiring people, and all of the other stuff that went into it, just making sure we understand the Wyoming Department of Health’s requirements and what they put in to make sure we could get approved and to make sure everyone was on the same page. It’s challenging, but we’re going to get there.”
Adams said there will be no season passes, but each session will cost $1. Swimming sessions will be broken into five, 90-minute open swim sessions throughout the day, bookended by 30-minute cleaning sessions. Sessions will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
There will be no swim team and the baby pool will remain closed, but the pool will open each day at 5:30 a.m. for lap swim and water aerobics. Swim lessons will be in session from 7 to 11 a.m., when the general sessions begin.
Special precautions will be taken at both pools with swimmers and staff to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to the re-opening plan.
“Pools staff will be checked for symptoms at arrival,” the plan said. “All staff and clients will have their temperature checked and will be reminded not to enter the pool if they are symptomatic.”
In addition, candy machines will not be operational. The drink machines will be available, but the plan said “swimmers should bring their own water.”
The plan said clients should show up to the pool dressed to swim, as there will be no locker room or shower facilities available. Restrooms will be available, however.
Social distancing guidelines are still in effect at the pools, and swimmers will need to share their name, phone number and home address with the staff when they arrive.
