Wenatchee City Pool to Remain Closed for 2020

The City of Wenatchee announced Monday that it will not be opening the city pool on Fuller Street this season due to health and safety concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Dave Erickson said that, usually, full time staff from the facilities department maintains the pool's operations.

"Then we bring on anywhere from 25 to 30 temporary life guards and swim instructors for the season." explained Erickson, "So the temporary workers won't be brought on this year."

In a normal year, the pool usually ends up costing the city about $100,000. Allowing for necessary maintenance, the pool's closure should save the city about $80,000 to $90,000 this year.

"Even though the pool would essentially mothballed for the year, there's still operational costs that we will incur. We still need to treat the water so it doesn't start smelling like a pond in the middle of August. We have to keep things like the filters and the pumps running so that way those are still operational," added Erickson

The splash pad at Rotary Park and wading pools at Kiwanis Methow, Washington, and Pennsylvania Parks will reopen as soon as Wenatchee gets to Phase 4 of the governor's plan to reopen the state. Erickson estimated that would be early to mid July.