Park board postpones opening of outdoor pools

Vancouver’s outdoor pools will not open until the completion of a thorough review of how to protect swimmers and staff from the risk of COVID-19, the park board announced Wednesday.

The park board typically considers the May long weekend the unofficial onset of swimming season by posting lifeguards at city beaches and opening the outdoor pools at Second Beach, Kitsilano Beach,

New Brighton Park, Maple Grove Park, and Hillcrest Aquatic Centre.

This year the board will wait for updated health and safety guidelines from Lifesaving Society Canada to help guide revised procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. A report on new procedures is expected at the end of the month.

“The impacts of COVID-19 on our daily life and recreation habits have been difficult for many in our community and we understand this is not welcome news for Vancouver, but public safety is our top priority and unfortunately we are not in a position to open this weekend,” Daisy Chin, the park board’s director of recreation, said in a news release.

Once a plan is developed and approved, the park board will move swiftly to hire staff and train them accordingly.

Vancouver beaches will continue to be open, but there will be no lifeguards on duty at Spanish Banks, Locarno, Jericho, Kitsilano, Sunset, English Bay, Second Beach, Third Beach and Trout Lake.

Instead of lifeguards, the city will post signs warning beachgoers that they swim at their own risk.