The Las Palmas Pool in National City opened July 13 for the first time since shuttering doors for COVID-related social distancing efforts earlier this year.
The facility recently began offering swim lessons, lap swim and group exercise classes like water aerobics where participants could remain at a distance in the Olympic-size pool.
Las Palmas currently opens at 5:30 a.m. and stays open to the public until 7:15 p.m., as well as staying open for private team practice in the evenings.
National City Acting Director of Community Services Audrey Denham said there were 48 lap swimmers and water aerobics participants on reopening day as well as groups of children who signed up for swim lessons.
“It went really well, we got nothing but positive feedback from patrons,” Denham said.
The pool had 54 participants for swim lessons who had signed up ahead of time and were directed straight to the pool deck upon arrival.
“It’s great because the way we’re doing it is participants have to make a reservation to do lessons, lap swim or group exercise and once they’re here, they pass straight through to the pool. They can’t loiter in the locker room,” Denham said.
A single restroom was open so it could be monitored and regularly sanitized and visitors were all directed to enter by one door and leave through a different door on one established pathway, according to Denham.
“We will be cleaning the pool daily. Monday, we sanitized restrooms, doorknobs, and light switches every two hours and have been following county directives. I want people to feel comfortable when they come to the facility. Everything is intended to ensure social distancing and I feel really good about the process we’ve created,” Denham said.
She said the highlight of the pool is low-cost swim lessons.
“I think that will take off because even though we don’t have recreational swim right now because of distancing, kids can get in the water and swim during lessons. They’re distanced but just being in the water feels good and they’re learning to be stronger swimmers at the same time,” Denham said.
A full schedule of offerings is available at nationalcity.gov, where parents can register children for swim lessons.
Youth ages 6-17 can participate in swim conditioning from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m but cannot register in advance as they will need to be assessed by the coach on deck and placed in an appropriately leveled group. They will need a parent to register in person when they arrive.
Interested swimmers can call (619) 336-6758 with questions or to obtain more information.
