Geneva’s Sunset Pool opens at noon Saturday for Memorial Day weekend

GENEVA – On the first day that passes went on sale for the anticipated opening of Geneva Park District’s Sunset Pool for the Memorial Day weekend, they sold 300 to 500 memberships, Executive Director Sheavoun Lambillotte said.

The passes went on sale Thursday and normally, they sell that many in a whole season, Lambillotte said, showing that people are ready to embrace less restrictive COVID-19 pandemic rules this summer.

“People are very anxious for safe outdoor activities,” Lambillote said. “I think that shows how excited people are to be getting back to some level of normalcy.”

The pool will open at noon on Saturday, even though temperatures are expected to be 63 – less than the usual pool opening temperature of 68, Lambillotte said.

But that’s OK, because it will give lifeguards an opportunity to prepare for the summer without the pool being too crowded, she said.

“The water will be warm,” Lambillotte said.

Sunday is expected to be 70 and Monday Memorial Day’s high is expected to be 72, she said.

The district opened its pool in July last summer, one of the few pools that could open following covid pandemic restrictions.

Now they don’t have to take temperatures any more, they can have more people in the pool and fewer restrictions on distancing and masks, though staff will wear masks while walking around and will continue disinfecting.

More relaxed covid restrictions will allow 60% capacity at the pool, which has a capacity of 1,350 swimmers.

But Lambillotte said they will keep it at 40% to 60% – that is between 500 and 800 swimmers – so as not to overwhelm the staff.

The district hired lifeguards in January through March, not knowing what the capacity or pandemic restrictions would be she said, so they have fewer than they actually need.

“We are in better shape than anticipated because we have returning staff,” Lambillotte said.

If a person is vaccinated and at least 16 or older, they don’t have to wear a mask any more.

But children at the pool below 16 years old can’t be fully vaccinated and under age 12, not at all, so staff will be masked for their sake.

Lifeguards will not have to wear masks while up in their chairs, just when walking around and closer to patrons, she said.

“So if they have to jump in the pool to make a save, they don’t have to wear it,” Lambillotte said.

Pool hours and costs are available on the website, www.genevaparks.org.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down last year, Lambillotte said the park district stepped up in a big way.

“We were the rock star and the respite from the insanity because everybody could go outdoors,” Lambillotte said.

“It accentuated how essential parks and recreation is in people’s communities. I think people knew it before, but took it for granted a little bit. But oh wow – what would we have done without ability to have outdoor yoga classes or outdoor concerts on a smaller scale where people could dance because not dance anywhere else,” Lambillotte said. “So many things we were able to provide that just became essential to people’s well-being, both physical and mental.”

Mill Creek Pool will open June 5.