Will Wichita pools open? Shutdown among cost-saving proposals to ease COVID-19 impact
Wichita could shutter municipal swimming pools and splash pads for the season to help shore up a nearly $10 million budget deficit caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
City Park and Recreation Director Troy Houtman said Monday that under at least one cost-cutting plan he floated to city manager Robert Layton, the popular summertime gathering spots would stay closed until next year.
The result would be $450,000 to $475,000 in savings — about half of the roughly $900,000 Houtman said he’s been asked to cut from his department’s budget to help ease COVID-19’s immediate toll. The balance of the cuts would come from the parks side of the department, namely reducing tree trimming and removal contracts and not filling forestry positions vacated through retirements.
The plan, which Houtman summarized during Monday’s Park Board meeting, would help the Park and Recreation Department avoid layoffs, keep recreation centers open and prioritize offering summer camps to kids.
It would also eliminate worries over how to keep pool facilities clean and swimmers far enough apart to lessen the chance of a COVID-19 outbreak.
“There’s a lot of questions about this all across the country. What is safe? How do we make sure we do social distancing at swimming pools? How do we have social distancing at splash pads? How do we control that?” Houtman told park board members during a YouTube live stream of the meeting.
“We have teenage lifeguards and swim instructors. ... Do we want to put them at risk?”
Under an alternate plan Houtman offered up, pools would open sometime between May 26 and June 30 with limited capacity and two-hour-long swimming sessions that would allow staff time to sanitize touch points between groups. Pool capacity could be expanded sometime after July 1.
Splash pads, meanwhile, would stay closed until at least mid-summer.
To meet requested budget cuts under such a proposal, Houtman said his department could layoff some of its seasonal recreation staff and pause certain commodities purchases, which would result in about $400,000 in savings.
Overall, Houtman said he was asked to trim 5% of around $18 million earmarked for the Park and Recreation Department in the city’s general fund.
The proposals Houtman shared with Layton “are part of initial internal planning” for city budget discussions in early June and “are not subject to mandatory disclosure,” city spokeswoman Megan Lovely said in an emailed response to The Eagle’s request for a copy. Plans for the city’s pools, hiring and other items “are not yet finalized,” she said, adding that the city wants to “ensure we’re being responsive both to the health and well-being of the public and our staff and the fiscal limitations presented by the virus.”
“My goal, my idea was what’s more important is to have summer camps this summer,” Houtman told the Park Board during Monday’s meeting.
“There’s going to be a lot of folks that are going back to work. They need their kids to be somewhere, to be taken care of. We need to make sure we have great programs but operate in a very safe manner.”
The proposals come as cities nationwide weigh whether to open pools and other crowd-drawing amenities after coronavirus lockdowns lift. Under Gov. Laura Kelly’s plan to reopen the state, pools may resume operation no earlier than May 18 as long as they follow safety guidelines including social distancing and limiting gatherings to 30 people.
There’s no evidence the novel coronavirus spreads through water in pools, hot tubs, spas and water playgrounds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because water disinfectants like chlorine and bromine should inactivate it. But people should practice social distancing and good hand washing both in and out of the water to protect themselves, the CDC recommends.
If Wichita municipal pools did open, it would likely happen in late June so staff could be trained and pools could be filled, Houtman said. Three pools were already scheduled to be closed for the summer for maintenance.
“We would have a really short season.”
Asked by Park Board president Eddie Fahnestock what factors played into the proposal to keep pools closed, Houtman cited the late opening date but also concerns about how to manage capacity in a safe and equitable way, sanitize facilities and protect staff.
“Those are some of the big, big questions that we had to still answer,” he said.
Keeping recreation centers open was also a priority when considering budget cuts, Houtman added.
“I don’t want to close recreation centers. That’s my last thing I want to do.”
The Park Board backed Houtman’s recommendation to avoid layoffs, keep recreation centers open and prioritize summer camps with a unanimous vote of support. It is unclear exactly when the city will make a decision about whether to keep the pools and splash pads closed.
“The cost per day to operate the entire pool system is $6,667 for 60 days potentially of swimming,” Park Board member Ty Tabing said during Monday’s meeting. “You know, in this climate that seems maybe beyond our reach.”
What other Wichita-area pools are doing
Here is what other Wichita-area cities and organizations have decided to do with their swimming pools and splash pads, as of Tuesday:
All Greater Wichita YMCA branches plan to open on May 18, but members won’t be able to use all amenities right away — and that includes pools, water parks and saunas. Those will be closed until further notice, President and CEO Ronn McMahon said Monday in announcing the organization’s reopening plan.
Andale’s mayor Jeremy Cawood said initially the city planned to close its municipal pool for the summer. But following a discussion at a special council meeting Wednesday, he said “there’s probably a pretty good chance that we might open it” the week after Memorial Day. He expects a decision by May 26.
Augusta will open its city swimming pool this summer, possibly in mid-June, but the exact date is pending. City Manager Josh Shaw said the city needs to complete some planned improvements to the pool first. The city council could release more details at its May 18 meeting.
Bel Aire plans to open its municipal pool on June 1 and is requiring that staffing and social distancing guidelines be met.
Cheney will decide whether to open its municipal swimming pool for the summer at its May 14 city council meeting.
Clearwater is planning a tentative pool opening date of June 1, with swimming lessons starting June 15. City administrator Ron Marsh said the date is about a week later than usual. The pool will adhere to social distancing and mass gathering guidelines from the state, he said.
Derby’s water park, Rock River Rapids, is scheduled to open June 1 , “if possible,” according to the city’s website. There are several changes planned including reduced capacity, new rules to enhance social distancing, extra cleanings, and a limit on swimmers in the pool. Some slides and the concession stand will be closed and visitors won’t be allowed to use inner tubes. But the vending machines will be available. Derby City Manager Kathy Sexton said the city “will make no firm decisions or announcements until after ensuring we can meet or exceed all CDC guidance for swimming pools and water parks.”
Goddard is planning to open its splash pad sometime between May 18 and June 1, and its municipal swimming pool on or around June 1, City Administrator Brian Silcott said. People attending will be asked to follow social distancing guidelines.
Haysville’s municipal pool is scheduled to open May 23, but the city is still working on a plan to protect guests from the virus, recreation director Rob Arneson said.
Maize is still weighing whether to open its popular community splash pad, located at the city park. Deputy City Administrator Jolene Graham said it would probably be in June sometime at the earliest. Updates will be posted on the city’s website and Facebook page.
Mount Hope City Council voted to open its pool on June 1, “provided nothing changes with the Governor’s orders,” City Clerk Leslie Stephan said.
Mulvane hasn’t made a decision about opening its pool, either. The city council meets next on May 18.
Valley Center city council members earlier this month voted to keep its municipal pool closed for the summer. City Administrator Brent Clark, in a Facebook broadcast of the council meeting, said shutting it down was “not an easy decision” but officials felt it was necessary to maintain public health. City recreation director Blake Peniston cited concerns over sanitation, social distancing, swimmer and lifeguard safety in rescue situations, and a shortened season in a letter to the council recommending the closure.
Private swimming pools in Wichita’s Rockwood and Indian Hills neighborhoods plan to be open, according to their Facebook pages. Details are still fluid, but Rockwood is aiming to start swim team practices in late May or early June. Indian Hills on Tuesday released a four-phase plan to reopen its facility, with pool access starting May 23 with reduced hours and limitations on guests, lessons and practices.
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 5:02 AM.
