RALEIGH, N.C. – Pool staff on Tuesday said swimmers will face a different setup when city pools reopen on July 6.
Staff spent Tuesday morning marking pedestrian routes at seven pools in Raleigh, including Biltmore Pool.
Laury Holley, Raleigh's supervisor of seasonal pools, says most of the modifications are being done inside the pool clubhouses as opposed to the pool decks themselves. Pool guests will have to follow one-way traffic to and from locker rooms. The pools will close every two hours to allow staff to clean surfaces including sinks, toilets, and door handles.
Once out on the deck, swimmers will face a setup similar to what they're used to, but with fewer tables and chairs. Holley said staff will not allow anyone to move chairs between tables, and anyone wanting to sit elsewhere will have to bring their own chair.
Although swimming pools were allowed to reopen when North Carolina entered Phase 2 of its reopening plan on May 22, many pools statewide have remained closed. Charlotte's Double Oaks Family Aquatic Center stayed closed until June 20. Wake Forest's Holding Park Aquatic Center reopens on Wednesday.
Space will be much more limited than usual, so Holley says it's a good idea to sign up for pool time online or by phone. People will still be able to swim on a walk-in basis as long as the pool isn't at capacity. Regardless of when they show up, everyone will have to undergo a temperature check before they walk in the door.