Photo: City of Penticton

The Penticton Community Centre pool won't be bustling anytime soon, but a gradual reopening is in the works.

Pentictonites looking to use the facilities at the community centre when it reopens will need to plan ahead, and prepare for a time limit on their visit. 

The pool and gym have been closed since the spring, but Bregje Kozak, Penticton recreation manager, reported to council this week that there are plans in the works to have them reopen with many safety restrictions within the coming weeks. 

"There will be a reservation and booking system online," Kozak explained.

When the pool reopens, it will be to reduced hours and likely new flat rates for one-hour time slots.

"We would anticipate going from about 1,000 swimmers a day to about 120 to 140 a day to begin with," Kozak said. "No general public access, no more drop ins. There would be a reservation system ... come in, have your lane, for the hour time slot and then you have to leave." 

The steam room and hot tub will not be open. 

Kozak explained they are still working on some of the details. 

"I don't want to give a firm date yet," she said "We would anticipate early August for a soft opening." 

After three or four weeks, a second phase could see increased hours, more opportunity for swim groups to rent and access to the hot areas. 

Swimming lessons won't be back until a few weeks after that and will be "fairly limited" over the next year due to new teaching guidelines from Red Cross looking at ways to involve parents holding and working with their children more, rather than just instructors, to reduce virus transfer potential. 

"Most of our lessons have a lot of touch points with our instructors and the children," Kozak explained. 

Coun. Robinson expressed concern about the financial responsibility of opening back up. 

"If we looked at just the pool only, going from 1,000 people a day to 140 a day, at what point to we seriously look at just shutting the facility until such time as we can open it up to the new normal?" Robinson. "Not to be a 'Debbie Downer.'"

Kozak explained some of the costs will come down due to massive staffing cuts. They will also be asking staff to approve a fee amendment at the July 21 council meeting to a flat rate, rather than offering the usual discounts to students, kids, seniors and the like.

"We can't keep people locked up in their homes indefinitely," Vassilaki said. "Otherwise things happen, nervous breakdowns and all the other stuff. We have to consider the public beside the finances, we can't just look at one and not the other. "