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Day camps, both pools open for summer

The aging St. Davids Pool has had some work done to it, including a coat of paint, and is expected to be filled this week. It will be a good summer for local families and kids, with the town’s summer day camps operating and both pools set to open.
The aging St. Davids Pool has had some work done to it, including a coat of paint, and is expected to be filled this week.

It will be a good summer for local families and kids, with the town’s summer day camps operating and both pools set to open.

Kevin Turcotte, the town’s parks and recreation manager, says he’s tried to keep to as normal a schedule as possible, although the pandemic is still putting restrictions on how activities can be carried out.

For example, both Memorial Park and St. Davids pools will open — the York Road pool remained closed last year, to the disappointment of local families — and both will offer family swims, lessons, lane swims and swim team schedules.

The family swims and pool rentals are currently expected to be limited to a maximum of 25 people, as are group rentals, says Turcotte.

Lessons are private or semi-private, for members of one family.

Each pool is expected to have a swim team of up to 25 kids, each with its own cohort, with swim practices held on alternate days.

The Niagara pool opens for the preseason June 19, 20, and 26 to 30, and July 1 and 2, before opening for the July 3 to Labour Day season.

St. Davids Pool opens a little later, as it traditionally has, for June 28, 29, 30 and July 1, 2, and then July 3 to Sept. 3.

The aging York Road pool, scheduled to be replaced when financing is available, has had some updating, but the tank hasn’t been filled — that will happen later this week, and at that time Turcotte says he’ll know for sure that everything is in working order.

The wading pool in Simcoe Park opens June 26 to Labour Day.

For more information about pools, visit https://notl.org/content/pools-splash-pads.

At the community centre, themed day camps will run for nine weeks, from July 5 to Sept. 3.

Because of COVID restrictions, Turcotte explains, camp registrations must be for full weeks, with each week limited to 25 kids, an improvement over last year’s camps when only eight children were allowed.

Provincial restrictions will be followed, he says, with most activities, including swimming every day at Memorial Park, to take place outdoors.

The day camps are for kids six to 12. Campers will be actively screened upon arrival, and must pass screening before being permitted to enter the community centre. Campers will be required to wash their hands more frequently, using soap and water, and sharing of any food will not be permitted.

Equipment used during activities will be disinfected after each use.

Before and after care is also available.

For more information about day camps, visit https://notl.org/content/camps.




About the Author: Penny Coles

Penny Coles is editor of Niagara-on-the-Lake Local
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