With Kentucky's public pools closed concerns arise over swim lessons
The swim tanks and swimming pool at Safe Splash Swim School in Louisville have been empty for weeks."Whether it's someone just swimming or the kids laughing, that's what I miss," owner Amy Albiero told WLKY Sunday. Business was just ramping up, parents signing up children to learn to swim, when amid COVID-19 restrictions, they were forced to close in mid-March."We were going from maybe 300 in December to closing in on 600 before we had to close, and our numbers were climbing every single week," she said.Just days ago, Kentucky's Health Commissioner announced public pools would not be allowed to open in May or June."There's just almost no way you can put together a whole bunch of kids and people, at a public pool and not have folks socializing and violating the social distancing rules of greater than six feet. It's just not pragmatically possible," Dr. Steven Stack said at the time.It means lessons usually done at those public pools will be on hold. So too would lessons at Albiero's swim school, which still no timeline to open. For the mother of three, it is a terrifying thought, especially as summer nears."Even if pools open in July these kids have now been out of the water for several months, more than they're ever used to being out of the water. So again, going back to safety we're opening up pools and kids just aren't ready," Albiero said.It's why she created a three phase plan to slowly open the school back up and resume those lessons, and submitted it to the Governor's office. Albiero's plan, developed with USA Swimming, is a gradual process. It would begin by getting one swimmer per lane back in the pool but eventually the hope is to return to group lessons."Really what I'm hoping is that our facilities can all be looked at separately and if we can prove and propose ways that we can keep in compliance with what the government is asking us to do then we should at least have the opportunity to open our doors," she said, adding staff would wear masks and locker rooms would be closed."Safety is a part of what our facility is called. Safety is always number one," Albiero said.Safe Splash Swim School is also home to Swim Labs Swim School, which is utilized by athletes and others, including those with physical restrictions, to stay in shape. Phase one would reopen the facility back up for fitness, while phase two of her plan would move to include one on one lessons. Albiero submitted that proposal to the Governor's office last week.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —The swim tanks and swimming pool at Safe Splash Swim School in Louisville have been empty for weeks.
"Whether it's someone just swimming or the kids laughing, that's what I miss," owner Amy Albiero told WLKY Sunday.
Business was just ramping up, parents signing up children to learn to swim, when amid COVID-19 restrictions, they were forced to close in mid-March.
"We were going from maybe 300 in December to closing in on 600 before we had to close, and our numbers were climbing every single week," she said.
Just days ago, Kentucky's Health Commissioner announced public pools would not be allowed to open in May or June.
"There's just almost no way you can put together a whole bunch of kids and people, at a public pool and not have folks socializing and violating the social distancing rules of greater than six feet. It's just not pragmatically possible," Dr. Steven Stack said at the time.
It means lessons usually done at those public pools will be on hold. So too would lessons at Albiero's swim school, which still no timeline to open. For the mother of three, it is a terrifying thought, especially as summer nears.
"Even if pools open in July these kids have now been out of the water for several months, more than they're ever used to being out of the water. So again, going back to safety we're opening up pools and kids just aren't ready," Albiero said.
It's why she created a three phase plan to slowly open the school back up and resume those lessons, and submitted it to the Governor's office. Albiero's plan, developed with USA Swimming, is a gradual process. It would begin by getting one swimmer per lane back in the pool but eventually the hope is to return to group lessons.
"Really what I'm hoping is that our facilities can all be looked at separately and if we can prove and propose ways that we can keep in compliance with what the government is asking us to do then we should at least have the opportunity to open our doors," she said, adding staff would wear masks and locker rooms would be closed.
"Safety is a part of what our facility is called. Safety is always number one," Albiero said.
Safe Splash Swim School is also home to Swim Labs Swim School, which is utilized by athletes and others, including those with physical restrictions, to stay in shape. Phase one would reopen the facility back up for fitness, while phase two of her plan would move to include one on one lessons. Albiero submitted that proposal to the Governor's office last week.
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