The majority of public pools in the region choose to stay closed for the summer because of COVID-19, but in one community its open.
While most public pools choose to stay closed during phase 4 of Restore Illinois, leaders say Herrin had no choice but to open because of recent repairs.
“You have to put chemicals and water in the pool the first year you paint it.”
Herrin Park Board Commissioner Bob Scillufo says they're allowed to operate at half their capacity or 200 swimmers at a time.
They made some operational changes to meet state guidelines: there’s a separate entrance and exit, staff and swimmers have their temperature taken, tables and chairs are 6 foot apart.
Scillufo says if the state didn’t extend current life guard certificates they probably couldn’t open.
“The only problem we had is with the life guards that we had, they had to currently have a life guard certificate, so if they did not have a life guard certificate, there was no place for them to go and take a class on life guarding.”
The changing rooms are closed so swimmers must come ready to swim.
