The opening of the pool in Lapeer Park would give Dearborn residents access to pools in three geographic areas of the city.
Initiative would offer pool time in 3 geographic areas; lifeguards to be shared between Ten Eyck, Lapeer
DEARBORN – With an eye always on the safety of residents in light of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Dearborn continues to offer options across the community as many recreational opportunities as prudently possible by “pooling” limited resources.
And it is doing it again — literally. The latest initiative is a plan that is likely to result in the opening of a third outdoor pool, this time in Lapeer Park. If successful, three geographic areas of the city will offer access to pools this season, and all three are open to residents regardless of where they live.
“We have been doing our best to serve all our residents with the important city services and programs they need, despite the extraordinary circumstances the pandemic has placed us in,” Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. said.
“Our safety concerns are very real, our resource limitation is very real, but through our best efforts it looks like we can now offer children and families a third swimming option. This very warm summer may have gotten a little better for our Dearborn families dealing with the pandemic.”
If the mechanical systems of the Lapeer Park pool permit its opening, certified city lifeguards also trained in COVID-19 safety protocols will be shared between Ten Eyck Pool in the west end and Lapeer Pool in the South End.
Schedules are not yet set under this sharing plan, but each pool is expected to be open two or more days a week. The split will be based on previous attendance numbers, and also take into account that the large community pool at Levagood Park in the west end is closed due to a construction project.
The new Ford Woods Pool in the east end, and Ten Eyck in the west are already open, made ready only after the governor and then Wayne County lifted prohibitions on outdoor public pools, and the city got the OK in mid-June.
With limited resources and limited certified staff, down because hiring was delayed and training sessions were cancelled during the “stay-at-home” order, the city acted as quickly as possible to open the pools it felt it could sustain with available resources and following safety guidelines.
Except for the new one at Ford Woods, all of Dearborn’s outdoor pools are more than 50 years old and have some degree of equipment and mechanical issues. Ten Eyck was chosen to open for the west because it had fewer maintenance complications than Summer-Stephens, about two miles away.
Examining options to expand the convenient access to the more geographically isolated South End resulted in the plan being pursued now.
“We understand that residents in the South End look forward to Lapeer Pool as part of their summer tradition,” Council President Susan Dabaja said. “So much has been impacted by the pandemic. I and the entire City Council are glad that together with the mayor and the Recreation Department, and with the input of residents, we are working on a way to offer swimming in the South End this season.”
Dearborn is not alone in its pool challenges. Most communities have been unable to open all of their water facilities due to safety concerns and limited availability of certified lifeguards. With rising number of cases of the coronavirus in Michigan, there is also uncertainty about the ability to keep public pools open.
COVID-19 safety protocols are required at all Dearborn pools. Capacity is limited to 50 percent. Masks must be worn to enter or exit the pool area, and at any time while patrons are walking around. Additional sanitation efforts are being made. Patrons must stay 6 feet away from anyone not in their household, both in and out of the water. At Ford Woods, temperature checks are required before entering the pool’s bathhouse.
Daily fees for the Ford Woods Pool are $7 for residents, $9 for guests of a resident, and $14 for nonresidents.
Daily rates for the neighborhood pool at Ten Eyck Park, and for the expected opening of Lapeer Park, are $5 for residents, $7 for guests of a resident, and $12 for nonresidents.
Also open are three splashpads, which cover additional geographic areas of the city at Hemlock, Whitmore-Bolles and Crowley parks. The splashpads are free and operate 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Residents are advised to use caution in light of the pandemic.
For more information about recreational facilities, call the Recreation Department service desk at 313-943-2350.