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Butte outdoor pool to open in June with restrictions

Posted at 3:44 PM, May 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-21 17:44:45-04

BUTTE - Butte wants to make a splash this summer by opening its new outdoor pool with many precautions due to the coronavirus.

“So we’re trying to make it as normal as possible, but we know we have to adhere to the guidelines of the CDC and state and local health departments,” said Parks and Recreation Director J.P. Gallagher.

The initial plan is to limit admission to only 250 people for two shifts per day.

“And so starting at noon we’ll probably do three hours. We’ll clear everybody out, totally sanitize the facility, and then open it back up from 4 to 7 o’clock at night,” said Gallagher.

Staff and lifeguards will make sure people maintain social distancing. Recent studies show that chlorinated water can kill the coronavirus.

“We have chlorinated water, we have a UV system that kills the virus itself, so the water itself is a great disinfectant for the people,” said Gallagher.

The governor’s office said public pools can open up after June 1, but Butte’s Parks and Recreation Department said it could take a few more weeks, because they have to train staff and lifeguards.

“It’s really important for kids to get active again, you know, this is this generation’s playground, and so we want to make sure the investment the taxpayers put into this water park is utilized and if any way possible we can open up we want to make sure that we’re able to do that,” said Gallagher.

If all goes well the pool could be opened as early as June 10.