Cole Park splash pad opened Monday
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Arya Bennett, the young daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah Bennett, was among the first to seek relief from the hot summer sun with Monday’s opening of the Cole Park splash pad. The automated water features are active from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. News-Register/Kurt Johnson
Preparations have begun to open the Aurora swimming pool on Saturday, July 11.
The Aurora City Council discussed the matter during a committee meeting before the June 23 council meeting, announcing its tentative plan to open both the pool in Streeter Want loc Park and the splash pad in Cole Park.
“They put all the information together during a committee meeting and the general consensus is that we do our best to get the pool open on the 10th or 11th, with the hope that we will be in Phase 3 shortly thereafter,” City Administrator Rick Melcher reported in an interview after the council meeting. “It makes work for lifeguards and crossing guards much simpler if we are in Phase 3 because of the additional information requirements. We do on anticipate the majority of the council saying that if we are in Phase 3, we’ll try to open on July 11th.
“We have to keep in mind that if things spike, the council will re-evaluate it,” Melcher added. “They want to make sure they keep the public as safe as possible.”
Councilman Paul Lackore, chairman of the city’s recreation committee, reported during the meeting that if things go as planned, the pool would open July 10-11 and close on the Web? -- Go Aug. 12.
“That’s our hopeful date for start-up if we reach Phase 3,” he said.
State health officials announced plans Monday to move Hamilton County into Phase 3 protocol effective July 6.
The Cole Park splash pad, which does not require lifeguard supervision, opened Monday. The water features are on a timer system, turned on from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m each day.
Teresa Anderson, executive director of the Central District Health Department, addressed the swimming pool issue during her 30-minute update to the council regarding the CDHD’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We want to make sure what we’re doing isn’t going to make things worse again,” Anderson said. “That’s slowing us down and making it some kind of summer for the kids who want to get out and into the swimming pool.
“I drove by your big beautiful pool and recreation area and I know we are limiting their ability to use it,” she continued, “but we’re hoping if we take this incrementally we’ll be able to get in there and get everybody back to normal.”
“I think if we can keep our positivity rate (the percentage of those tested showing positive COVID results) below 6 percent, or in single digits, the governor will go ahead and approve us for Phase 3,” she added.
