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SALEM -- The Centennial Park pool won't open this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but park officials plan to use the down time to paint the pool and tackle some other maintenance projects in the pool area.
"There's painting that can be done in the bath house. We can utilize this time to do a thorough cleaning and maintenance," Parks Foreman Jim Grimm said.
The Salem Parks Commission voted during a special meeting held Wednesday at Centennial Park to keep the pool closed this year, based on a recommendation by Parks Director Shane Franks.
Franks told them he's been talking to other park officials in other communities and at least two indicated their pools would be closed, East Palestine and Lisbon. He's also been following what other park operators are planning statewide and predicted the majority will be closed for the summer.
Right now, public pools are prohibited from opening per the state's order related to COVID-19 which runs through May 29. Normally, Centennial Pool didn't open until June anyway and closed by the end of August, but there's a lot of uncertainty right now.
Franks said the Centers for Disease Control issued draft guidelines for what may be required if and when pools are permitted to open. Those draft guidelines could include masks for all staff not in the water, social distance maintained in the water and on decks with specific staff (not lifeguards) assigned to monitor social distancing and frequent disinfecting of commonly used items and areas.
Franks said if the pool can't be open by June 1, he was strongly suggesting the pool not open at all. Even with having a good year last year and being open all season, he said they still ended up losing $10,000 on the pool operation.
Commission Vice Chair Lucille Karnofel asked if they still had to fill the pool if the pool wasn't open due to maintenance concerns for equipment. Both commission Chairman John Panezott and Franks said the pool is already filled since the water was left in all winter. Plans to have a company evaluate the pool will be put on hold.
Commission member Lori Colian had asked if it was feasible to push the opening date out farther. She said she understood the reasoning for closing and said if they can at least give people some idea of what would be done with the pool closed, such as maintenance projects, that "might be an easier pill to swallow."
Salem Police School Resource Officer Rich Miller, who was asked to attend, gave some input and said people are stressed right now. He suggested making a positive out of the situation, referring to the opportunity for some maintenance, noting social distancing in a pool with kids would be difficult.
"This is out of our hands," Panezott said, referring to the state orders.
The commission also discussed keeping restrooms closed for now. With no organized sports going on, playgrounds closed and no events being held due to state orders against gatherings of more than 10 people and the requirement for social distancing, they said there isn't much need for the restrooms.
Karnofel said the restrooms should remain closed until pavilions are allowed to have more than 10 people. Basketball courts and playgrounds remain closed, but tennis courts can still be used for tennis and pickleball as long as social distancing is practiced.
The parks have remained open overall since the COVID-19 concerns began, with the governor recommending people get out and exercise while using social distancing and not gathering in large groups. The Nature Trail and dog park at Waterworth Memorial Park remain open and now there's a rock garden near the dog park, too. People can still eat lunch in a pavilion. Colian said with so much turmoil right now, people need that. They need to go outside and get fresh air.
"People have done a very good job when they come to the parks," Franks said.
He announced that the parks office on Oak Street is open to the public now as long as a face mask or covering is worn. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The regular meeting of the parks commission is set for May 27, with the location to be announced.
mgreier@salemnews.net