Here comes the sun

Willoughby looks forward to pools opening, summer events to start

“I think we’d be able to do residents and nonresidents. I would hate to have our pool open sitting empty when other people want to swim and can’t.” — Willoughby Parks and Recreation Director Judean Banker

Willoughby is looking toward a summer with normalcy as plans develop to open the pools and host events.

Plans to have open attendance at the Euclid Avenue Pool and the Osborne Park Pool are in the works. Last year, Mentor only had 4,000 in attendance and Mayfield Village only had 5,000, said Willoughby Parks and Recreation Director Judean Banker.

“I think we’d be able to do residents and nonresidents,” Banker said. “I would hate to have our pool open sitting empty when other people want to swim and can’t.”

“I’m all for the pools opening. Last year, people had the fear of God in them,” echoed Councilwoman Katie McNeill said. “We all had some unknowns whereas now, people are more educated, the numbers are low. I hope kids are out having fun.”

Meanwhile, June 30 will be the first Osborne sunset concert and the following week will be the first Thursday night concert, Banker said. Originally, Osborne’s first concert was scheduled for the beginning of June last year, but it was pushed back to “play it safe,” she said.

“We’re waiting to hear about the Memorial Day parade,” Banker said. “I’ve spoken with the (American) Legion and they’re willing to walk. They want to do a parade, so we’re just waiting for those state guidelines to come out.”

Banker said June’s car cruise-in will be held with modifications with more social distancing implemented.

“I don’t believe the cars could be as close as they were,” she said. “We have a meeting about the Arts Fest I think at the end of this month and that should be an easy fix. We have Euclid Avenue up to Sharp, which is unused, and we have the rest of Erie Street, which is unused, so we can separate tents a little more.”