Crompton Park Pool Reopens In Worcester

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester will open the public pool at Crompton Park on Wednesday at noon, although there will be plenty of new guidelines in place due to coronavirus. The pool will only operate at 40 percent capacity, and pool-goers will have to give their names to allow for contact-tracing, if necessary.

The pool will be open daily noon to 7 p.m. through Aug. 23. The pool will also have a senior swim hour starting July 14, which will happen Tuesdays and Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon.

Here are all the new guidelines for the Crompton Park pool, according to city officials:

• All users must supply their names and contact information to allow for contact tracing
• Pool capacity will be limited to 100 users, or 40 percent of the current capacity of 250 users.
• Reservations will be taken for Worcester residents only (up to 60 users). Reservations can be made by visiting the city website.
• The swimming day will be broken in three sessions: Noon to 2 p.m. (reservations open from 8 to 11 a.m.); 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (reservation open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.); and 5 to 7 p.m. (Reservations open from 2-4 p.m.)
• During each break, staff will have all users leave the facility and conduct a wipe-down of touch points to reset the facility. Resets are from 2 to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 5 p.m.
• The remaining 40 users of the pool will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no residency requirement. A numbering system will allow users to disperse into the park, allowing for social distancing, until it is their time to enter the pool area.
• Any non-used reservations will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis with no residency requirements.
• Hand sanitizer will be available. The public will be required to sanitize their hands upon entering and entering and leaving the facility.
• Pool users will be required to take a shower before entering the pool deck area.
• All groups will be required to be at least 6 feet away from neighboring groups. Visual identifiers will mark these locations.
• Pool visitors must maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet even in the water.
• There will be no use of storage cubes, and no games or toys will be allowed.
• Lifeguard stands or seating areas will require a minimum of 6 feet in distance from the public.
• Trash will be removed daily from each site.
• Restrooms will be thoroughly cleaned once per day, and will be single-use to ensure proper social distancing. Staff will be stationed at each restroom to manage entrance and egress. Staff will wipe down main touch points, remove trash and restock restrooms during each reset. Staff will have sanitizer available and require users to sanitize their hands upon entering and exiting restrooms.
• Water fountains and water refill stations will remain closed.
• Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests will be allowed to be used, and must be supplied by each participant.
• Following the Governor’s Order, all visitors to parks and open spaces, including the pool, must wear face coverings or masks. (These are not required while in the water.)
• Staff will be required to complete a self-assessment for COVID-19 symptoms each day.
• All accessibility equipment will be available and cleaned after each use.