Opening a water park has become unexpectedly complicated

MOSES LAKE — It seems like a simple enough question. When does the pool open?

Yeah, about that.

The Surf ‘n Slide water park, of course, should be open by now. But this is the year of the coronavirus, and guidelines for opening the pool aren’t really clear yet. Tom Los, Surf ‘n Slide manager, said there’s a date when a pool is theoretically allowed to open. After that it gets fuzzy.

“We just don’t know anything. It’s super frustrating,” Los said.

“It’s almost as if the people giving the guidance don’t actually operate pools,” he said.

The theoretical date is July 1, although that depends. All activities are subject to severe restrictions as part of the effort to combat the COVID-19 virus, and the restrictions are being lifted in phases.

A county has to be in Phase 3 of reopening before the pool is allowed to open. Grant County might not be in that all-important third phase when July 1 rolls around.

Phase 3 will limit the number of people at the pool to 50 percent capacity. And how many people is that? Well, state officials are still deciding that, Los said.

Ginny Streeter, public information officer for Washington Department of Health, said DOH officials are still analyzing pool capacity.

“We’re hoping to have that (information) out very, very soon,” Streeter said.

“We’re waiting. The whole state is waiting,” Los said.

There are some guidelines, including a requirement for social distancing during lifeguard training sessions. Of course, water rescue training is pretty difficult from six feet away. The final decision will be up to the Washington Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Tim Church, public information officer with the Bureau of Labor and Industries, said no rules have been issued specifically for pools. Without specific rules, pool operators must follow the state’s general guidelines.

Some guidelines have been issued by Gov. Jay Inslee’s office, Church said. Those guidelines, however, include a sentence saying they do not apply to water parks.

“There are so many factors — all these moving pieces,” Los said. “The hardest part is trying to get somebody who has an answer.”

Nevertheless, the effort to open the pool is going ahead. Parks and recreation officials are working with Grant County Health District and the city’s attorney on a reopening plan.

Los said there will be some operational modifications. The Flowrider (which simulates surfing) will be restricted to one person at a time. Float tubes won’t be allowed on the Lazy River ride, so the current will be turned off. The splash pad won’t be open, since it’s difficult to maintain social distancing there. A staff member will be assigned to circulate on the grounds, reminding people to keep social distancing.

Children won’t be allowed to play on the pool toy called Treasure Island, Los said. Pool patrons won’t be allowed to borrow life jackets, due to the difficulty of cleaning them sufficiently.

City officials have installed plastic shields at the counter and signs reminding people to practice social distancing, Los said. The plan also includes a more rigorous cleaning regimen.

Some cities have decided not to try to open pools this summer. The Splash Zone in Ephrata and the municipal pools in Othello and Quincy will be closed.

Los said seeing other pools close has motivated him to keep trying.

“I want there to be — something,” he said. The pool is important, not just to kids and families but to Moses Lake’s economy, he said. However, there will be a time when it’s just too late to open. The longer opening has to wait, the harder it will be to open.

“We have to do a financial analysis,” Los said.

But city officials are going to keep trying. “If we don’t open, it’s because there is no possible way we could make it work,” Los said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.