Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, both the Greenville and Leland public pools will be closed this summer.
“This is a safety issue, and the best thing right now is for us to keep them closed,” Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons said. “It is really hard to social distance in a pool and it is easy to spread the virus. You can’t wear a mask.”
In Leland, the city council voted unanimously Tuesday to keep its pool closed.
With the virus still going around the region, Leland Parks and Recreation Director Roy Gordon said he believed the decision by the board was the prudent one.
“I absolutely agree with the decision,” Gordon said. “Right now, we just don’t know where this virus is headed. We need to see a downturn before we open things like the pool back up.”
While the public pools in Greenville and Leland will not be open, the pool at the Hodding Carter Memorial YMCA in Greenville has been open the past four weeks.
Mickie Sandidge, the YMCA’s program director, said those enjoying the pool must swim under proper social distancing guidelines. YMCA staff members have sectioned off the pool with ropes, and each family is only permitted to swim in its section.
The pool, following government health guidelines, will also only be open at 50 to 60% capacity; however, Sandidge said this was not a huge concern since the YMCA pool is rarely that crowded.
Sandidge encourages people who are looking for an alternative place to swim this summer to consider joining the Greenville YMCA. She said her organization offers a number of family packages for future members that are reasonably priced. The YMCA also offers guest passes for those wishing to use the pool.
Anyone interested in joining the YMCA can call the facility at 662-335-7258 or visit its website at ymcahcm.org.
“We definitely have plenty of room at our pool for more swimmers,” she said.
