Jersey City – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today the reopening of two public pools as well as all city playgrounds and splash pads as the scorching summer temperatures set in and the city works to reopen its public spaces and services to the community at large, on the heels of three-plus months of the pandemic lockdown.
The recent summer heat spell has beckoned the call to open municipal pools, and following the state’s lifting of restrictions, the city will start to reopen the outdoor pools to the public tomorrow - with all social distancing protocols strictly enforced.
“We’ve taken many steps over the past few weeks to get our city back online safely and healthily,’ said Mayor Fulop.
“Be it establishing outdoor safe eating zones for residents or reopening our parks for safely run activities, this makes perfectly good sense with the hotter temperatures to allow this format of recreation so that people can have fun, cool off and do it all safely.”
All municipal playgrounds and all public spray grounds have been power washed and disinfected by the city’s Department of Public Works and will be regularly cleaned upon reopening to the public on July 2.
The same rules will apply as the rest of the park – masks or cloth facial coverings must be worn and social distancing practices should be followed as much as possible.
Beginning July 3, the city's outdoor pools will reopen to the public, starting with the Pavonia/Marion Pool located at 914 Pavonia Avenue.
The reopening date for the Lafayette Pool, 303 Van Horne Street, is scheduled for July 10. Safety precautions are being put in place with pool access to residents only and a maximum of 50-percent capacity to allow for social distancing.
Pool goers will be required to follow safety guidelines per the NJ Department of Health:
**Face coverings:**
Patrons are encouraged to wear a cloth face covering while not in the pool. In the pool, face coverings are not allowed due to an increased risk of drowning.
Staff will be wearing face coverings, except lifeguards will not wear a face covering while on-duty actively lifeguarding.
**Social distancing:**
Required when not in the pool, except for immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or partners.
Required when in the water, unless an individual needs assistance in order to swim.
Pool usage is broken down into two-hour shifts where sanitization will take place for an hour between each swim session. The full schedule is outlined below:
**Pavonia/Marion Pool**
(Open July 3)
Monday-Friday
8 am-9 am – Adults Only
10 am-12 pm – Family Swim Session 1
1 pm-3 pm – Family Swim Session 2
4 pm-6 pm – Family Swim Session 3
Saturday & Sunday
12 pm-2 pm – Family Swim Session 1
3 pm-5 pm – Family Swim Session 2
**Johnston/Lafayette Pool**
(Open July 10)
Monday-Friday
7 am-9 am – Adults Only
10 am-12 pm – Family Swim Session 1
1 pm-3 pm – Family Swim Session 2
4 pm-6 pm – Family Swim Session 3
Saturday & Sunday
12 pm-2 pm – Family Swim Session 1
3 pm-5 pm – Family Swim Session 2
For more information on pool schedules, visit: https://jcrec.recdesk.com/Community/Facility?type=2.