Tuesday will see the City of Vancouver welcome swimmers to four more of its pools and fitness centres, with new health and safety protocols to stave off COVID-19.
The set of Oct. 13 reopenings include Killarney Leisure, Lord Byng, Renfrew, and Templeton Park pools and fitness centres including Kensington, Lord Byng, Renfrew Park, Strathcona, Templeton Park, and Vancouver Aquatic Centre.
All indoor pools in the city were shut down in mid-March in response to the pandemic.
“The reopening of our indoor pools marks a huge milestone for the Park Board’s pandemic recovery plan,” said Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation chair Camil Dumont.
“We know just how much public demand there is for access to our pools and our staff have done an exceptional job of planning for the safe resumption of swimming in the city."
As such, the Kensington pool will not reopen this fall, due to its size, which is too small to safely accommodate physical distancing required.
#VanParkBoard is reopening more facilities on Oct 13! Four more indoor pools: Killarney, Lord Byng, Renfrew Park & Templeton Park and 3 more fitness centres at Renfrew Park, Strathcona & Vancouver Aquatic Centres https://t.co/fDEtyRhBVD pic.twitter.com/0tQ0PSGxmM
— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) October 9, 2020
At the newly reopened pools, visitors will notice wider lanes for length swimming as well as directional signage.
The pools are reopening with reduced maximum capacities to help support physical distancing, lifeguards will be required to wear personal protective equipment on duty.
There will also be a buffer between swim periods that pool staff will use to sanitize and prepare facilities for the next group.
Showers, change rooms and lockers will be available but patrons will need to adhere to limits on occupancy numbers.
The park board will manage admission through an online reservation system, in addition to in-person drop-ins.
Leisure Access Program passes will also be accepted.
