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Writer's pictureSun Valley

2020 Pool Opening Plan

Hello Sun Valley Families, 


Thank you for your patience during these unprecedented and uncertain times. Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, this summer will no doubt be different. We're happy to announce the board has approved our plan to open the pool on Saturday, July 4. We passed our inspection with Lexington’s Board of Health and over the next week we will be training staff, clearly marking the grounds to support social distancing, and making sure we have the final pieces in place to meet state and local guidelines and keep our members and employees safe.  


We understand everyone has different feelings about the situation and the rules that need to be followed. It is our goal to provide members with the opportunity to swim and play tennis, while maintaining safety as dictated by state and CDC guidelines, and making fiscally responsible decisions. The balancing act is not easy, but we are committed to doing all we can to make the best of a challenging situation. While you may not always agree with the rules, we are doing our best to be honest, transparent and flexible, keeping in mind the best interest of members, staff and the community at large. We are purposefully starting conservatively with a plan that we feel will enable us to follow the safety guidelines. Our hope is that as summer progresses we will be able to relax some of the rules, however we cannot make any guarantees as it will depend on COVID numbers, the state’s response, and how things are working in this “new normal” at Sun Valley.  


Based on state guidelines we are permitted 40% occupancy during Phase 2. To ensure compliance and fair access to all members, we are requiring advance registrations. We will be allowing eight swimming reservations and four non-swimming reservations, for a total of 12 families inside the pool area at any one time. Based on the number of member households and available time-slots, we anticipate each household will be able to reserve a slot at least once every 4 days, perhaps more often depending on participation levels.    Reservations will be for a two hour period of time and for swimming reservations and you will select a designated area of the pool for your family at the time of reservation. The pool zones are set up to allow both lap swimming and family swim time in various water depths. The lap lane reservations may be used for lap swim or general water enjoyment by a family with children looking to swim in both shallow and deep water. Upon arrival you will be able to choose from available seating areas. You will be required to maintain 6 foot distance from non-household members at all times, including in the pool. Chairs will be cleaned between each use, high touch surfaces will be cleaned frequently, restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day, and staff will be monitoring to ensure hygiene and distancing guidelines are followed. Facility use will be limited to members only, children under age 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and masks will be required when moving about on the grounds.


The reservation time slots and the way the pool is divided will be evaluated on a weekly basis and will be adjusted to best meet member use/demand in the most equitable fashion. The system will also be changed accordingly if/when we are given new capacity requirements.  The initial pool opening rules are available here. We will send information on how to make reservations early next week. It will be an online system similar to how you reserve a tennis court. Recognizing the hardships faced by many families, we will be pro-rating membership dues to reflect the missed weeks. However with significant fixed costs, Sun Valley is facing an operational loss this year. If you are in a position to contribute a portion of your credit/refund back to Sun Valley to support operational costs we would deeply appreciate your generosity to help sustain our club in the long-term. All members will have the option to designate a contribution as part of the credit/refund process. The logistics of pro-rating membership amounts will take place in mid-July so that we can focus on what is required to open the pool as soon as possible. Members who do not feel comfortable participating this summer may opt out and receive a credit or refund, or convert to a tennis only membership. In this case we will put your membership on hold this summer so that you may re-join us in 2021 without any penalty. If you wish to place your membership on hold or switch to tennis only, please let us know as soon as possible via this decision form. If you wish to keep your membership and you have not already done so, please submit the COVID-19 waiver. Each household must sign this waiver prior to visiting Sun Valley.


Thank you for your support and understanding as we have worked tirelessly over the past three months to determine the best way forward in such uncertain and challenging times.  


Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or comments. While we recognize this is not the summer we imagined nor how any of us would choose to operate a social swim and tennis club, we feel fortunate we are in a position to open our pool for your enjoyment this summer. Despite the challenging circumstances we know there’s still much fun to be had and we are looking forward to seeing you very soon. 



Want to go to a swimming pool this summer? Here’s what to know.

Massachusetts swimming pools have been able to reopen since June 8. But coronavirus has kept many pools closed.


June 22, 2020

The Boston Globe


"Is it safe to swim in pools with the coronavirus?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread from person to person via the water used in pools. Pool disinfectants like chlorine should also kill the virus.

But like other activities, crowds are still a risk factor. Be sure that whichever facility you visit allows you to maintain a social distance of at least six feet. And bring your mask or facial covering for situations where social distancing is impossible. Experts believe that swimming in pools should be a safe and healthy activity as long as social distancing is maintained." (excerpt from Boston Globe article linked above)

Are you a Swim Only Member looking to get involved with tennis? Contact us to add tennis to your membership today for a small up-charge.


REMINDERS FOR OUR TENNIS MEMBERS

We have started assignments for our small group tennis programs. So that we can finalize plans and block appropriate court time, please sign up by this SUNDAY 6/28 if you wish to participate. After that time, registrations will only be accepted if openings exist within our planned structure. 

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