With Governor Cooper’s announcement of North Carolina’s movement to Phase II, Lawndale is happy to announce the pool will open on Saturday, May 23rd at 11:00 am! This will be a different year for summer clubs and below are the guidelines Lawndale will follow to support the health and well-being of our membership. These plans are based on the Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC.
New Rules and Procedures for 2020
Wait Wash Wear
When you first arrive at the pool, you will notice markers to keep us 6ft apart on the sidewalk. Guards in the guardshack will be wearing masks to welcome members to the pool. Masks are not required to be worn by members, but they are encouraged while you are entering and exiting the main pool area, or in areas like The Dive In and clubhouse.
If you have paid your membership dues in full, you will receive your membership card. This year, Lawndale is accepting PayPal and checks. If possible, do not pay in cash.
With the governor’s order, pools are allowed 50% capacity within the grounds. For Lawndale, we will not have a problem accommodating our current membership. As we get used to these new guidelines, you may want to call ahead to confirm there is space for your family.
- When members present at the guardshack, they will be asked the number in the party. Members may choose to bring their own chairs. Lounge chairs and captains chairs will be available; each chair will be cleaned with disinfectant bleach and stacked at the guardshack between uses. Staff will be available to help members retrieve and return chairs.
- Bathrooms will be limited to one family unit at a time in order to maintain physical distancing policies.
- Pool users of the same household will come to the pool together and, since they live in the same space, will not be practicing social distancing with each other. Families that have been commingling may choose to share the same space.
- Groups will be separated by 6 feet on deck. Staff will have 6 ft. long poles to help members determine physical distancing.
- Guests are limited to those persons with whom your family has already been exposed.
- Pool toys will not be provided by lifeguard staff, including goggles, noodles, or torpedoes.
- Items left behind may be thrown away as staff will not be able to provide storage for lost and found.
- Table tennis paddles and balls, foosballs, and air hockey equipment will not be provided by staff at the guardshack.
- At this time, Float Night is not possible. (I’m really sorry.)
- Members should make every effort to practice physical distancing when in the water. Parents and chaperones of children, not lifeguards, will be responsible for managing physical distancing in the water.
The maximum user capacity in the water is 45 members, or 10 people per 1,000 square feet of the pool. This may seem like a very small number, but Lawndale does not average higher than that on a regular basis. Guards will monitor the total number of occupants and may require some swimmers to wait before entering the pool. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (with chlorine or bromine) of swimming pools should kill the virus that causes COVID-19. –CDC
Cleaning requirements and guidelines issued from the health department will be followed.
- See above regarding lounge chair cleaning protocols.
- All high-touch areas will be regularly disinfected:
- Picnic tables will be cleaned with disinfectant bleach between uses. When leaving a picnic table for the day, please alert a guard or the manager to insure cleaning occurs.
- Guards’ rotations will include disinfecting with a bleach solution. Bathrooms in both the bathhouse and clubhouse will be regularly disinfected including stall handles, counters, faucet handles, toilet seats, and handicap railings. Shower handles and the pull chain on the outdoor shower will also be disinfected.
- Staff of The Dive In snack bar will disinfect its counters and dispensers after each customer.
Lawndale has contracted with ChemSource to supply touchless antibacterial hand soap dispensers, touchless hand towel dispensers, and touchless hand sanitizing stations. Sanitizer is currently on backorder, but as soon as it is available, those stations will be placed at the guardshack, the outdoor shower, the Dive In, and both entrances to the clubhouse.
All guards and staff will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival for their shift and any guards who may be symptomatic will be required to leave immediately. Members are asked to self-monitor for symptoms and remain home if any of the following symptoms are present:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
We appreciate everyone’s support in following the guidelines set by the CDC and the State of North Carolina. Please be patient with us as we navigate this new way to “do summer.” Staying Apart Keeps Us Together…even if it’s at a distance.
Membership Cards – Due to the uncertainty of the pool opening, many members have delayed paying dues. Please be patient with us and the guards when paying dues this weekend. We will have tables set up and practice physical distancing while payments are received and cards distributed. One family member can collect their cards while the rest go find their spot in the sun or shade. This year, cards will be given to parents and teenagers to use when entering the pool. Lawndale will no longer allow membership card pictures on devices for entrance. We are always open to new ideas and if you have a suggestion, please pass along to the board. Otherwise, please show your card each time for entrance into Lawndale.
Guest Cards – In the past two years, Guest Cards were available for purchase. For the time being, these will not be available. We hope to continue this deal with possible Punch or Stamped Discount Guest Cards in the near future. Guests are still welcome and encouraged at Lawndale but our guest policy may need to be amended for 2020 as this summer progresses.
