V.S. pool to keep day pass system this summer

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The Valley Stream pool will open for its 59th annual season on June 12. Like the previous summer season, the pool will be using a day pass system for entry, as opposed to the family membership pass system used in previous years.

With the potential for limited pool capacity due to the pandemic, village officials said they decided to keep the day-pass system in case they are forced to turn some visitors away.

“if we can’t guarantee that all residents will have access to the pool at any time, then we shouldn’t be selling them family membership passes for every day use,” Village Recreation Director Jimmy Fitanzo said.  

The decision to keep the day-pass system was met with some controversy on social media. In light of the pandemic, however, others were OK with the decision to keep the day-pass system.

Valley Stream resident Eileen Rafferty suggested that the Recreation Department find a way to maintain capacity while allowing for family membership passes to return to the Pool Complex. 

“They could easily do [family] membership and maintain a head count,” she said. “. . . One way in and out and have an employee to count those who enter at the entrance and exit, just like stores did when they reopened.”

“With emerging Covid variants and two small, unvaccinated children, I appreciate having the lower day rates because it lessens my anxiety over having to commit to a full season,” Ulla Kjarval said. “I understand why not having a pass option for families would be frustrating for some.  Families calculate what passes to invest in each summer and weigh options, and Covid-19 adds another level of stress.” 

“I’m hyped about the pool for this year,” agreed resident Liz Hess. “I love the idea of resident days and the daily passes again.” 

“Maybe it’s an easier way to control capacity,” Cat Chenkus speculated.

Also like last year, the pool will no longer provide lounge chairs, to minimize exposure to germs. Residents must bring their own chairs to sit at the pool complex. 

Residents are advised to adhere to all of the standard coronavirus protocols, including social distancing of six feet, as well as mask wearing while moving about the complex and in the men’s and women’s locker rooms. Mask wearing while in the water is optional.

“It’s hard to tell who is actually family members, when hundreds of people are in the pool all at once, especially because we have up to 5,000 residents involved in pool activities,” Fitanzo said. “We will do our best to tell people to social distance this season.” 

Recreation workers will sanitize all surfaces before, during and after pool opening sessions each day, he said. Areas frequently touched by residents, such as counters, door handles and other surfaces, will be sprayed, wiped down and disinfected by staff members frequently. 

“We want everyone to be safe, and we fully expect to go back to normal next season in 2022, with family membership passes returning as an option, and we hope in 2022 the swim team will come back, but we have to wait and see,” Fitanzo said. “Even though some residents aren’t happy with the changes that we’ve made to the pool complex, the majority of residents that I’ve talked to are OK with the changes because they understand that we’re in a pandemic. I’m looking forward to this pool season to see all the smiling kids and families splashing around and having fun.”