All of you who are wondering when Sault Ste. Marie's two outdoor pools and the Bellevue Park splash pad are going to open, don't hold your breath!
We checked in with the city for an update and found out the re-opening plans are dog-paddling in coronavirus uncertainty.
"We don’t have specific information at this time," says Malcolm White, the city's chief administrative officer.
"We are proceeding with planned maintenance activities on the outdoor pools to prepare them for opening."
"For the pools and the splash pad, there are a number of provincial directives for maintenance and operations that we have to sort through as well as further guidelines that we may receive from Algoma Public Health."
"Once we have sorted through these and the resulting operational requirements we will be able to communicate further," White tells SooToday.
The Ontario government announced on June 8 that indoor and outdoor swimming pools and outdoor splash pads and wading pools may open to the public in Sault Ste. Marie and other communities chosen for its Stage 2 re-opening framework.
However, no access will be allowed to high-contact aquatic features such as slides and climbing structures.
The City of Orillia has announced it will open just one of its five splash pads this summer, citing the expense and complexity of COVID-19 protocols prescribed by the Lifesaving Society.
The Lifesaving Society's advice includes:
- even when operating with effective disinfection, maintenance or operating procedures, water playgrounds (splash pads) present a higher risk of COVID-19 contamination due to: (a) Design and features that make it more difficult to maintain appropriate physical distancing (b) The size and design of the facility creating a challenge to keep surfaces clean and disinfected (c) The potential for the virus to be spread when patrons touch common surfaces, then touch their unwashed hands to eyes, nose or mouth (d) The common use of freshwater with no added disinfectant (bromine or chlorine)
- operate water playgrounds only while there is no ongoing community spread of COVID-19 in your region in accordance with provincial/territorial health authority recommendations
- install a fence around the perimeter of the water playground to control access by identifying a separate entrance and exit
- during opening hours, always ensure the presence of an employee able to ensure access control and patron supervision
- conduct regular disinfection of common contact surfaces, such as water play activation mechanisms, nozzles, rainbows, etc.
- if using treated water for water playgrounds, maintain at least the same disinfection levels of water quality as swimming pool water standards
- adopt and follow all other guidelines as described in this document
Sudbury has announced its splash pads are expected to be open by June 26, 2020.
