Updated July 30 1:43 p.m.
The Woodlands Township on July 27 announced the closure of Forestgate Pool, along with the reopening of Wendtwoods Pool.
The Wendtwoods Park facility was closed July 25 after an employee at the pool tested positive for COVID-19, and reopened Monday following a sanitization process, the township said in a statement.
The Forestgate facility's July 27 closure resulted from limited staffing caused by precautionary quarantines as outlined in the township's COVID-19 Pool Closure Prioritization Plan, rather than any additional positive COVID-19 tests. No reopening date was announced by the township, although the facility may return to operation if staff members are cleared from quarantine protocols and are able to return to work.
Updated July 22 6:05 p.m.
Riva Row Boat House will reopen July 23 for regular business operations following a two-week closure, The Woodlands Township announced July 22.
The boat house initially closed alongside Lakes Edge Boat House July 6, after an employee who worked shifts at both locations tested positive for COVID-19. While Lakes Edge Boat House reopened July 8, the Riva Row facility remained closed while many of its staff members were in precautionary self-quarantines, the township said. No additional employees have tested positive for the disease.
Watercraft including kayaks, paddleboards, water bikes, pedal swan boats and pedal kayaks will again be available for rental beginning Thursday morning. Rental payments must be cashless, and face coverings at the boat house are required although customers may remove their masks once they are on the water.
Updated July 8 5:45 p.m.
The Woodlands Township announced the reopening of Lakes Edge Boat House July 8, while Riva Row Boat House is expected to remain closed for the next two weeks. Both facilities were temporarily closed July 6 after an employee who worked shifts at the sites tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, the township said its sanitization procedures at Lakes Edge Boat House were completed prior to the July 8 reopening. Riva Row Boat House had also undergone cleaning, but will remain closed due to staffing issues as many of the employees there remain in precautionary self-quarantine. Some kayaks and paddleboards will be moved from Riva Row to Lakes Edge to accommodate additional demand there, the township said, while swan boats, pedal kayaks and water boats will not be available.
Wednesday evening standup paddleboard yoga lessons will continue at the Riva Row location while the boat house is closed.
Updated July 6 5:26 p.m.
The Woodlands Township announced the temporary closure of two of its boat houses July 6, after an employee who worked at the sites in recent days tested positive for COVID-19.
Both Riva Row Boat House and Lakes Edge Boat House were closed until further notice for cleaning and disinfecting, and to allow the township to notify those who may have come into contact with the employee. According to the township, the employee worked shifts at Lakes Edge Boat House on July 3 from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and July 5 from 1:30 to 8 p.m., and at the Riva Row Boat House July 4 from 1:30 to 8 p.m.
Updated July 1 2:11 p.m.
Jasper's The Woodlands announced it is temporarily closing its doors after a culinary team member tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a Facebook post from the restaurant, the employee had zero guest contact and showed no symptoms.
"This individual was in the building as recently as Saturday, June 27th, and is resting in the safety of their home," the post said. "We are implementing mandatory testing of COVID-19 for the entire staff of Jasper’s Woodlands effective immediately. We are also asking for a full quarantine of our staff during the temporary closure of the restaurant."
Jasper's The Woodlands said future updates will be posted when the restaurant is ready to reopen.
Updated June 29 4:16 p.m.
The Recreation Center at Bear Branch Park was temporarily closed and Wendtwoods Pool reopened June 29 after employees at the facilities tested positive for COVID-19, according to The Woodlands Township.
A recreation center employee worked several shifts at the park over the past two weeks, including shifts from noon to 6 p.m. June 15-19 and shifts from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22-25, the township said. While all employees are screened daily with a temperature check and coronavirus exposure questionnaire when reporting to work, the employee did not have an elevated temperature at any daily screenings, the township said.
The Bear Branch facility will remain closed through June 30 for cleaning, disinfecting, and to allow for notification of those who may have come into contact with the employee. Sunny Dayz Camp programming at the park is suspended through July 3, with further reopening information to be announced following the recreation center's sanitization.
The township also announced the reopening of Wendtwoods Pool June 29 following a temporary closure there due to two employees' testing positive for the disease as well; neither registered an elevated temperature while working their shifts. The township said the pool had undergone an extensive cleaning and disinfecting procedure prior to the reopening. According to the township, the two employees worked the following shifts at the pool:
- June 14, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- June 15, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- June 16, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- June 17, 10 a.m. to noon
- June 19, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- June 20, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- June 21, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
- June 23, 1 to 8:15 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- June 24, 10 a.m. to noon
The Alden Bridge Pool will reopen June 18 following a temporary closure caused by a pool employee testing positive for COVID-19 June 17.
The Woodlands Township said the pool was closed to allow for cleaning and disinfecting at the facility, as the employee worked two shifts June 16.
“All safety and sanitization procedures have been completed, notifications made, and the pool is ready to re-open,” Chris Nunes, the township parks and recreation director, said in a statement.
According to the township, all staff members are required to pass daily temperature screenings and questionnaires about possible COVID-19 exposure when reporting to work. The employee who tested positive was not recorded with a high temperature after a June 16 screening.
Posted June 17 2:35 p.m.
The Woodlands Township announced the temporary closure of the Alden Bridge Pool on June 17, after an employee at the pool tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, the township said the employee worked two shifts at the pool June 16 from 7:30-11 a.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. While all pool staff members are screened daily with a temperature check and questionnaire, the township said the employee did not have an elevated temperature when screened June 16.
The township is working to notify anyone who may have contacted the employee, and the pool facility is currently being cleaned and disinfected. A reopening date will be announced following the pool's sanitization.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure employees’ and the public’s safety,” said Chris Nunes, the township parks and recreation director, in the statement.
The Alden Bridge Pool, located at 7725 Alden Bridge Drive, The Woodlands, first opened for the 2020 season alongside the township's other six pools June 6. The township's five splash pads opened June 3.
