Children enjoying the outdoor pool in Bridgewater. Photo: Town of Bridgewater
Premier Stephen McNeil announced today that public pools can open effective immediately but that announcement is likely too late to enable the O’Reagan’s Subaru Bridgewater Community Pool to open.
Mayor David Mitchell says that the announcement included restrictions that make opening the pool unfeasible, “We still have to follow the original phases set up, so ten people in the pool, physical distancing and with those in place it isn’t viable to open the pool.”
He says the community would utilize things like lane swims but the primary use of the pool is for public swims that see significantly more than ten people on a daily basis.
Another issue is that pool preparations have already been put off. Typically staff would have been hired at this point and Mitchell says lifeguards would have already began looking for work elsewhere. Any lifeguards hired would also have to undergo extensive training in order to be equipped to work with the new restrictions.
Bridgewater is not alone in these problems according to Mitchell “I expect many municipalities are in a position similar to ours, these pools take a lot of work to get ready especially now and many of those preparations have already been canceled.”
The mayor expects community members will be eager to see the pool open but he says people need to be understanding at this time.
Members of the Town of Bridgewater staff have been working on other ways for people to cool off this summer. Mitchell says he recently saw a list of ideas that he’s excited to share with the community shortly.
Town Council made the decision not to open the pool on June 9 and as it stands that is still the town’s intent.
