The Crestwood Aquatic Center has been open and operating since June 15 under COVID-19 restrictions for capacity and social distancing that will make this year’s pool season far different than the past.
The city said it has taken time to “thoroughly” review the St. Louis County official guidelines for reopening public water recreation facilities and is cooperating with every regulation from the county.
Members of the Sunset Hills pool, which is closed this summer, can buy passes to the Crestwood pool at Crestwood resident rates with a subsidy from Sunset Hills, under a $10,000 plan approved June 12 by the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen.
Ward 1 Alderman Dee Baebler started a petition to keep the Sunset Hills pool open, but Mayor Pat Fribis said keeping it open would have cost the city $135,000.
The plan includes requiring reservations for either a morning or afternoon session, requiring masks when not in the water and no deck chairs out because they wouldn’t be able to be sanitized enough— but attendees can bring their own lawn chair.
The pool and surrounding area will be disinfected between the two shifts. Guests will be screened for COVID-19 before entering, and staff will have temperatures taken when they come to work. Anyone who refuses to wear a mask will be asked to leave.
The upside of the limits is that the pool should never be crowded, City Administrator Kris Simpson said.
