Mahwah Pool Director Says 'Get Ready To Swim'

MAHWAH, NJ — The Mahwah Municipal Pool will likely open sooner than originally expected.

In a May 22 letter to pool members, the Mahwah Pool Commission was hopeful for a summer season, but was hesitant to make any guarantees, and offered a possible July opening. Now, following further guidance from state health officials, a brief letter announced the latest update with a much different tone, and a simple phrase: "It is time to get ready to swim."

A letter from Pool Director Brian Clapp shared that the pool would be opening for the summer and the "goal" is to open on June 27.

"This year is going to look a bit different than in years prior, as the Managers and Pool Commission work with town officials prioritizing the safety of our community. We are all working hard to prepare and operate in accordance with the recommendations provided recently by state and local officials," he said in the letter.

The guidelines set forth by state health officials leave a lot of room for interpretation, he said, but the pool commission is working with the township health inspector to meet the necessary protocols.

During a May 8 news conference, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said pools could open as long as they followed rules which included practices for social distancing, wearing face covers when out of the water and capping capacity at 50 percent.

Guidelines initially proposed by the Mahwah Pool Commission in May fall in line with the guidance from the state.

Some of those changes to this pool season, from the May letter, include a possible 50 percent maximum occupancy rule, which means no group swim lessons. Private lessons are "uncertain", according to the letter.

The pool is also considering time blocks, or shifts, which allows every family to attend the pool once per day within a two to three-hour window. This, the pool says, helps to spread people out, and allows for more frequent sanitization. During the middle time block, 1 to 4 p.m., lap swimming wouldn't be allowed to "maximize pool space."

There will also be a testing element to pool entry, which includes a waiver or lab test result per each family, and temperature testing upon entry.

Member applications and fees, pool hours and other changes to rules and regulations will be updated prior to opening, according to the new letter.