It was August 2019 when the Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool was last open, and now after four months of extensive planning at city hall, the popular venue will soon welcome back swimmers.
The outdoor pool will reopen at 6 a.m. on Monday, June 14, and until Sunday, July 4, the weekday schedule will see the venue open at the crack of dawn and close at 8:45 p.m. The weekend schedule sees the pool open at 11:30 a.m. and closed at 7:45 p.m.
Phase 2 of the pool’s reopen plan — from July 5 to Aug. 29 — will see the venue open at 11:30 a.m. and closed at 7:45 p.m. during weekdays and on the weekend.
The July 1 and Aug. 2 stat holidays will have schedules of 11:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Once the outdoor pool opens, city hall will close the Kinsmen Sportsplex Pool for annual cleaning and maintenance. This occurs from Monday, June 14, to Sunday, July 4.
Pool users are encouraged to book swim times using the online recreation registration link at moosejaw.ca or the recreation registration button on the City of Moose Jaw app. Users can also call the Kinsmen Sportsplex at 306-694-4483 for assistance with booking swim times.
As part of the pool’s reopening, the parks and recreation department developed a plan that considers programming, budget implications, venue alterations, communications plans, customer safety, staff safety, and cleaning and sanitizing requirements. Click here to read the report.
Reopening the venue after almost two years has created a sense of excitement, especially since the pandemic forced the City of Moose Jaw to close all municipal buildings and venues in May 2020, said recreation manager Scott Osmachenko. The pool will now be the final municipal venue to reopen in Moose Jaw.
“It was deeply missed last year,” he continued. “Whenever we talk about the outdoor pool, everyone seems to have summer memories of swimming at the outdoor pool, so I’m excited for that to happen again.”
Parks and rec staff met with public health officials recently to review the pool venue, with health officials tested the water and finding no issues with its quality. Osmachenko acknowledged that the pool infrastructure is aging — it was constructed in 1959 — but the department has maintained the venue and ensured it is ready to accept people.
City hall has been receiving plenty of feedback from residents about the pool about how eager they are to return, the recreation manager continued. Many users are also thrilled that they will be able to use their recreation memberships more fully.
The maximum number of people who can use the pool is 80, with physical distancing guidelines in place until at least Phase 3 of the provincial government’s reopening plan. Most health orders could be removed by July 11.
While the primary role of pool lifeguards will be to keep swimmers safe, they will also work with head lifeguards, recreation staff and buildings staff to enforce the guidelines, said Osmachenko. In addition, the parks and rec department is asking the public to follow those guidelines and be aware of all signs and messages.
“The one aspect of swimming that is different is that you don’t have to wear your mask in the pool inside, so it did provide a little bit of normalcy before,” he added. “You’ll still have to wear a mask when you’re inside the Natatorium and then you take it off when you go outside. So, it’s a constant message and constant reminder.”
City hall reminds residents that all municipal spray parks are now open for the season.
