Perkasie Borough Council voted 8-0 open the Menlo Aquatic Center on July 1 at a regular business meeting held via a YouTube Livestream on June 1.
Councilman Aaron Clark was absent from the meeting.
Borough officials are making plans with the assumption that Bucks County will have entered the Yellow Phase of the coronavirus transition period and is working in conjunction with Bucks County officials and health and safety guidelines.
“Without that guidance municipal pools did not have the ability to schedule pool center openings,” Borough Manager Andrea Coaxum said in a phone interview.
If Bucks County moves to the Green Phase of the coronavirus transition in the meantime, restrictions on opening could be eased, she said.
“It’s going to be complicated when you first hear it, but once people get to the pool they will be able to adjust accordingly,” Coaxum explained.
Menlo will open with the following restrictions:
- Only Perkasie Borough residents will be able use the Menlo Aquatic Center for the first two weeks after its opening.
- Visits are limited to one, three hour time slot per day.
- Time slots must be reserved in advance of the visit at perkasierec.com.
- Family members are considered a unit, and a family unit may consist of one to six persons.
- Daily rate only; no season or monthly passes with the cost to use the pool set at $5 per person.
- Six foot aisles will separate family units, which will be marked on the grass area in 10 foot by 10 foot squares.
- Swimmers must maintain social distance as much as possible when in the water.
- No swimming lessons will be offered this season.
“It will feel like there are a lot less people in the pool,” Coaxum said.
She said if Bucks County moves to Green Phase and those rules and procedures change, at some point pool admission may open up to non-residents, or to month-long memberships.
Coaxum acknowledged it would take time for staff and residents to get used to the new procedures, as well as limiting occupancy at the pool.
“Some families will choose to stay home,” she said.
Coaxum noted 92 family units would be the maximum allowed into the Menlo campus at any one time. In 2019 a season pass for a Perkasie Borough family of four cost $271.
“That’s why we’re not offering a membership because we can’t guarantee how many times or how long you can come to the pool,” Coaxum explained.
“There is still a chance for the remainder of the season if the restrictions are lifted, and if we feel we can offer a membership, we would announce that,” she said.
She is optimistic Rita’s Water Ice and Frozen Custard of Perkasie will be able to open the snack bar during the pool season.
The standard Menlo pool season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
“This year we don’t have an end date yet. If the weather is nice, and we have access to lifeguards and staff, we’ll see about extending it. For finishing the season we’re leaving a lot of options open,” Coaxum said.
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