The city of Tucker will reopen both of its public pools on Saturday, officials announced Thursday.
Officials plan to implement new procedures intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. To visit Kelley Cofer Park pool or Smoke Rise Bath and Racquet Club, residents must register online for a specific 2 ½-hour period each day, the city said in a statement.
Deck chairs will be spaced out at least 6 feet apart, and all chairs and facilities will be sanitized for 30 minutes every three hours between swim sessions.
Tucker spokesman Matt Holmes said up to 24 people will allowed at each pool at one time; that’s about a quarter of normal capacity. They are open to all DeKalb County residents.
“Our staff has done a lot of study and a lot of research on how best to accomplish the goal of safely opening these pools,” Tucker Parks and Recreation Director Rip Robertson said in a statement.
The state’s coronavirus-related restrictions on public pools have expired, meaning they are now able to open.
But several metro Atlanta cities and counties do not plan to open their pools for Memorial Day weekend due to the pandemic. Brookhaven’s reopening date for its pools is still “to be determined.” In recent meetings, DeKalb County officials have said they have not yet made a decision on when to reopen county pools.
Gwinnett County announced it is not opening its public pools for Memorial Day weekend, but plans to offer some indoor pools for lap swimming by appointment only.
The Georgia Department of Public Health recently released a seven-page guidance document for public pools, recommending procedures for social distancing, keeping public spaces and furniture clean and keeping sick people from using facilities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there's no evidence that the coronavirus can be spread in swimming pools, hot tubs, spas or water play areas.
Tucker assumed responsibility for Kelley Cofer Park pool from DeKalb County in 2018. The city acquired the privately owned Smoke Rise Bath & Racquet Club on Glacier Drive earlier this year.
Both pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week; Cofer will close for maintenance on Tuesdays and Smoke Rise will close on Wednesdays. Residents can purchase daily or annual pool passes online.
— Staff reporter Amanda C. Coyne contributed to this report.
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