Jack Carter Pool is one of the outdoor pools that will not reopen, Plano Recreation Services Manager Susie Hergenrader said May 13 in a message to residents.
“This was a difficult decision for us to make since we recognize the popularity of Plano’s public swimming pools, and the respite they would provide individuals and families who have been sheltering in place for the past few months,” Hergenrader said.
City staff made the decision because they could not account for social distancing of children, Hergenrader said. They also could not guarantee that the city could recruit enough certified lifeguards during the pandemic.
Even as the pools remain closed, the city plans to move forward with a partial reopening of some of its other recreation facilities.
These facilities—including the Plano Aquatic Center and the Carpenter Park, Liberty, Oak Point and Tom Muehlenbeck recreation centers—will reopen to members only on June 1. Many typical offerings will remain off-limits for now.
The facilities will offer their running tracks, fitness areas and indoor pools for lap swimming only.
Recreation centers will implement new safety measures once they reopen, the city said. Locker rooms will be closed, cash and checks will not be accepted, and staff will wear additional protective gear. Per mandatory state guidelines, recreation center members must wear gloves in the fitness rooms. They are also encouraged to wear face coverings.
The Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+ will remain closed as long as there is continued “widespread community transmission” of the virus that causes COVID-19, the city said.
