Mahwah Township Pool 'Hopeful' To Open In July

MAHWAH, NJ — The Mahwah Pool Commission hopes to open the township pool in July, but expects that restrictions may limit some familiar activities.

In a May 22 letter to pool members, the commission expressed hope for a summer opening, but offered the caveat that "nothing is set in stone."

"Due to the Governors extended restrictions, and the time needed to prepare the facilities and train the staff, we remain hopeful to open in early July," the commission wrote.

Recently, the CDC offered guidance to public aquatic venues, including public pools. The commission, according to the letter, is aware of the guidance, and is additionally working with state officials and departments to determine the best steps forward.

"We are working with our Mayor and Council, Safety Officials, Health Department, and our Pool Commission, who all want to give you a safe summer at the pool, but we may have to implement changes for this year," the commission wrote.

Some of those changes 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.

With regulations and opening day still up in the air, the commission announced member registrations are temporarily closed. No date was offered for registrations to resume.

Competitive New Jersey swimmers have been vocal about the reopening of pools, including two Basking Ridge high schoolers.

Andy Moss and Jerry Zheng, both sophomore swimmers at Ridge High School, petitioned Governor Phil Murphy to reopen pools for training.

"Competitive Swimmers need the pool to maintain their feel for the water and their aerobic endurance. USA Swimming has clearly provided the guidelines for reopening pools safely during this pandemic. Competitive training can be done safely and thousands of capable swimmers need it," Zheng said.

Their petition seeks 15,000 signatures, and has currently received 11,699.

Read more: Basking Ridge Swimmers Petition Gov. Murphy To Reopen Pools