INDIANAPOLIS — After weeks of evaluating possible scenarios to safely operate pools given the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indy Parks today announced that five of its pools would open for the summer.
Beginning on Saturday, June 13 the following pools will be open six days per week at 50% capacity.
- Bethel Park
- Frederick Douglass Park
- Riverside Park
- Perry Park
- Willard Park
In addition to being able to reduce their attendance levels throughout the summer, the selected pools have separate locker rooms and restrooms that are designated for pool visitors only and are not shared with other facilities within the park. The pools also feature adequate deck space and pool water for social distancing.
“Summer is not canceled at Indy Parks and neither is our commitment to the city we all love and to the people we serve,” said Linda Broadfoot, Indy Parks director. “As a team, we have a responsibility to explore every possibility for residents and their families to stay healthy and safe, to have access to free meals, and to enjoy recreational activities in our parks.”
Indy Parks Summer Pool Offerings: Beginning on Saturday, June 13
- Pools will be open on Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m., and 5-7 p.m.
- All pools must be closed periodically for 1.5-2 hours for routine cleanings during open hours.
- Each pool will have approximately 12 staff members working daily, and staff will wear face coverings when they are not in the water.
- Pool spray features and park spraygrounds will not be available until further notice.
Indy Parks will soon highlight plans for summer concerts and movies using similar measures to maintain social distancing, limit crowds, and to remind park visitors to practice CDC recommended guidelines to lessen the spread of COVID-19.
Ronnetta Spalding, a spokeswoman for IndyParks, provided some additional context on why IndyParks chose the five pools to open.
"Alongside the locker rooms, restroom separation, and the ability to reduce the capacity by 50%, we evaluated other activities that could occur at the park this summer and how those activities/events could could impact our goal of limiting crowds and enforcing social distancing (for example, day camps, potential summer concerts, and the reopening of family centers to the public on June 15 were considered)," Spalding said. "And, we made sure that pools were adequately staffed to operate the pools and facilitate new safety guidelines."
