Overland Park could be the next city to close pools this summer due to coronavirus
Concerned about the spread of COVID-19 as Johnson County slowly reopens, an Overland Park committee on Wednesday night recommended that the city close all of its outdoor pools this summer.
The community development committee voted 5-1 to keep all pools closed, and now the decision will go to the full City Council, likely at its next meeting on May 18.
“This is a tough choice. There are just so many unknowns this summer,” Overland Park Councilman and committee chair Curt Skoog said. “I think the only reasonable choice is to not open outdoor pools this year.”
The move follows Prairie Village and Roeland Park earlier this week deciding to cancel their pool seasons. In Lenexa, officials are preparing to open only one of the city’s three outdoor pools — the Indian Trails Aquatic Center, in Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park at 87th Street Parkway and Lackman Road.
Johnson County cities can open pools for the summer as early as May 18 as part of the second phase of Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan for reopening Kansas. But municipalities have the authority to issue stricter rules.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread in chlorinated pools. But social distancing could be an issue.
City leaders across the region have decided that the public safety risks of allowing crowds to visit pools this summer would be too high. Parks and recreation staff have said it would be difficult to implement social distancing restrictions, such as keeping visitors six feet apart, plus requiring lifeguards and other staff members to wear masks and continually sanitize surfaces.
Renee Reis, Overland Park aquatics supervisor, said that safely training lifeguards is another major concern.
“Once we do bring (lifeguards) into training, the physical distancing is not going to happen,” Reis said. “We will not be able to maintain six feet of physical distancing. When we train our staff on land and in water, there’s no way to get around that.”
The committee considered opening only one of the city’s five outdoor pools, the Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center, beginning in July. But committee members decided that operating one pool for roughly 45 days with strict restrictions would not be worth the public safety risk.
Only Councilman Scott Hamblin voted against the decision to close all outdoor pools.
The indoor pool at the Matt Ross Community Center may still be allowed to open this season starting in July, officials said, depending on what social distancing restrictions are required at that time.
The Johnson County Swim and Dive League has canceled its 2020 season.
In Missouri, Independence decided to cancel its pool season, closing the city’s Adventure Oasis Water Park.
Kansas City will likely decide by the end of the week on whether to open its spray grounds, aquatic centers and public pools, said Doug Schroeder of Kansas City Parks and Recreation. Many other area cities are still debating whether to open pools.
