Beachwood Aquatic Facility Will Not Open This Summer

BEACHWOOD, OH — The Beachwood Family Aquatic Center will be closed for summer 2020, Mayor Martin Horwitz announced this week.

The health and safety of residents was Horwitz's number one priority in deciding to close the facility for the summer. While state officials gave pools permission to open this month, Horwitz said other health and safety restrictions would make opening the aquatic center impossible.

New safety mandates would require the city to limit the number of people in the aquatic facility at one time. There would also have to be additional monitoring around the pool deck and in the pool to ensure social distancing.

Stringent sanitation rules would require staff to wipe down all chairs, surfaces and bathrooms almost hourly. Life guards would also be unable to perform rescues without risking exposure to COVID-19.

Horwitz consulted with aquatic facility staff and health professionals before deciding to close the facility for the summer.

"This is a painful decision to make. We recognize that the Family Aquatic Center is one of the many reasons that Beachwood is a great place to live, work and raise a family. We know it helps build a strong sense of community. Unfortunately, the risks associated with opening the pool are not acceptable during the pandemic," Horwitz said in a statement.