By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
After a delayed opening due to COVID-19 precautions, the Hays Aquatic Park is set to open Saturday, just as temperatures well over 90 degrees settle into the area.
"Basically, the pool will open two weeks later than normal," said Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Center director.
With the opening, some precautionary measures have been put in place for the safety of the patrons and staff.
"We have ramped up the cleaning there," Bixenman said, noting extra staff will be working to ensure cleaning is ongoing.
Lounge chairs will be separated by a 6-foot distance and lazy river tubes will be cleaned after each use.
Restrooms will also be cleaned more frequently and barriers will be in place for the safety of the staff and the patrons coming in, he said.
While the Aquatic Park will open, the Wilson pool will remain closed for the summer. And with other pools in the area choosing to remain closed, Bixenman said it is possible the park has a busy summer.
"We could get an influx of patrons here," he said. "I think people are ready to get out in the sun and the water.
"We look forward to the next month and a half for people to come out and enjoy the pool," he added.
Pool passes are set at $35 per person through the end of June.
The park will be open Monday-Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
While preparations are being made for the opening of the Hays Aquatic Park, the Hays Recreation Commission is settling back into normal operations.
"The facilities have opened back up, thank goodness," Bixenman said. "It's been a crazy couple of months. But our fitness center opened back up on Monday, May 18, and the gyms and courts opened up a week later."
While the facility is reopened, COVID-19 precautions have been put in place there as well.
"We've got barriers up at the fitness center and barriers up at the front desk for the workers in the offices," Bixenman said. "We also have social distancing stickers and, of course, our cleaning schedules have ramped up."
Workers are cleaning the facility each morning and evening and throughout the day, he said.
"We are always cleaning during the normal times, but we just ramped it up," Bixenman said.
In the fitness center, every other machine is blocked in an effort to maintain social distancing, he said.
While traffic has returned to the fitness center, so far usage has been lower than normal. But as time goes on, Bixenman said, traffic is picking up more each day.
"I think more and more people are coming back, but I think during this time that people found other ways to maintain their fitness levels and do other things with their families, which is a good thing as well," he said.