Public pools to reopen in Palmerston North from today with limited services

Splashhurst Community Pool in Ashhurst will open May 19.

Palmerston North's public pools will reopen today and over the next week with limited services to ensure all users stay safe.

Community Leisure Management (CLM), which operates The Lido, Freyberg and Splashhurst, has been working around the clock to ensure the facilities can reopen in level 2.

The Lido's 25m, spa pools, sauna and steamroom will open today.

To limit the use of the changing rooms, CLM is asking swimmers to come to the pools in their togs and go home in them.

All swimmers will need to register at the pool websites for contact tracing, and will be given a card for future use.

The other pools at the complex are likely to open next week once maintenance work is completed.

The pool used for swimming lessons has been relined during level 3, and some final touches are needed before it can be refilled.

A leak was found in the leisure pool this week and will likely be ready next week following repairs.

Freyberg's pools will all reopen today but Splashhurst's 25m pool will open on May 19, and the toddler pool to follow as maintenance work is finished.

However, leisure services will be limited because of continuing physical distancing.

Only group bookings will be allowed outside of lane swimming and spa pool use.

Swimming lessons and group fitness will resume at Freyberg today, at the Lido on Monday May 18, and at Splashhurst Saturday May 23.

To ensure level 2 guidelines are observed, children should only be accompanied to lessons by one person and should wear togs to and from the pool.

The after- and before-school programmes will run again next week, providing childcare options for people returning to work.

The Lido reopens today with reduced hours, strict physical distancing and hygiene rules.

The council's chief infrastructure officer Tom Williams says CLM has stepped up for the community during Covid-19.

"As well as continuing to employ all 130 staff, CLM has acted quickly to get planned upgrades done during level 3 while the facilities were closed, and have ensured the pools can all reopen at speed.

"Their plans for contact tracing and physical distancing measures, which include innovative online check-ins, can give our community great confidence about how seriously they're taking the health and wellbeing of our residents."

CLM is getting in touch with all members, swimming lessons, group exercise, before- and after-school programmes and gym users to give more detail about the services and the restrictions under alert level 2.

Find more information: Lido Aquatic Centre - https://www.clmnz.co.nz/lido/news/playing-it-safe-at-level-2.html
Freyberg Community Pool - https://www.clmnz.co.nz/freyberg/news/playing-it-safe-at-level-2.html
Splashhurst Community Pool - https://www.clmnz.co.nz/splashhurst/news/playing-it-safe-at-level-2.html