Re-Opening Includes COVID Protocols and New Registration System
BROOKLINE — Recreation Director Leigh Jackson is pleased to announce that Brookline’s Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center will re-open Monday following a prolonged closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The facility will undergo a soft re-opening Monday, Oct. 5, with residents and non-residents invited to swim during half of its open hours as staff adapts to the new protocols and makes any adjustments that are deemed necessary once the re-opening has begun.
The aquatics center will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday for the foreseeable future.
Residents and non-residents who wish to swim must make reservations for 45 minute swimming blocks ahead of time using Brookline Recreation’s new online registration system, SmartRec. In order to use the system, residents must first create an account, which they can do by clicking here.
Pool areas will be individually reserved, and guests can reserve lanes, segments of the diving well and lesson pool or the entire diving well or lesson pool. Lanes will be restricted to one person at a time, and the lesson pool and dive well will be restricted to no more than eight people if they are all from the same household.
To sign up for pool time, click here.
Residents may book pool time up to one week in advance. The online system allows guests to book specific pool areas, and reservation durations are currently limited to 45 minutes. For a step-by-step walkthrough of how to use the reservation system for the pool, click here.
“This is going to be an adjustment for all of us as we get used to our temporary new normal and continue our efforts to re-open our recreation facilities,” Jackson said. “I ask that all guests be mindful of the challenges we’re all facing due to COVID-19 and exercise patience with staff as we navigate this re-opening together.”
Safety Protocols in Place
Due to COVID-19, swimmers will notice several changes from the last time they visited the aquatics center. All of these changes are designed to keep swimmers and staff safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- All visitors and staff must wear a mask at all times when they are not in the pool
- Each area will undergo cleaning and sanitization in between guests
- New markers have been installed to facilitate one-way traffic into and out of the building and on the pool deck in order to support social distancing.
- Locker rooms are closed, and family changing rooms are open only for toilet and sink use
- Visitors may not linger in the lobby
- Water fountains are closed, except for touchless water bottle refilling.
- The diving board and bleachers are closed
- Visitors may not use any EKAC equipment
- Visitors may bring their own kickboards, pull-buoys water exercise equipment and U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices. Visitors may not share equipment with other guests
- Deep end tests are suspended
- The lost and found will not be available
- Immediate building closure in the event someone exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, and at least a 24-hour closure if they test positive for COVID-19
- Staff have undergone extensive, specialized training to deal with COVID-19 related issues
In addition, the aquatics center has adopted enhanced cleaning procedures that will be undertaken on a daily basis in addition to cleaning and sanitization between guests. Also, hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the facility.
For more information about the EKAC, visit Brooklinerec.com or BrooklineCOVID19.com/EKAC.
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