Anatomy of A Difficult Decision About Pools, Splash Pads and Summer Day Camps

I knew that I’d take some heat. (Yup, that was a pun!) It isn’t easy to make decisions that frustrate people’s aspirations for rich experiences in our community.

For 4 weeks now, I’ve been working with staff and listening to the community to collect information needed to make a decision about whether we should attempt a “pool season” with North Perth’s municipal aquatic infrastructure. And once the decision was made in the negative – the noise got loud quickly. I’m not keeping score but will note that public feedback hasn’t been all disappointment.

I think it’s too simple, too easy, for our residents to believe that I just followed a whim – woke up on the wrong side of the water bed, or hate swimming, or something. Nothing could be further from the truth! Staff supported me in a very careful analysis of the issues and opportunities associated with these difficult choices. I will admit that I am one of the most measured decision-makers out there and take no rash decisions without feeling I have all the facts. I know you can only take my word on that.

For the pools situation, we wanted to make a decision that was well considered and yet timely enough that we wouldn’t be jumping the gun (as in getting ahead of the province’s guidance), nor made too late that we would compromise our community’s ability to redirect their summer plans to other alternatives. We heard through the grapevine that Premier Ford was making a series of announcements yesterday (Monday, June 8) about Stage 2, but we did not have the details in advance. What we did have is a series of other provincial guidelines issued before the recent Stage 2 openings, which told us what pool re-opening would look like. And so we started with that framework and an understanding that having one or both pools open would be a big benefit for the mental and emotional wellness of our community.

The province’s framework relating to the reopening of pools closed off all opportunities for our traditional sponsored and public swims, leaving us with social distancing and gathering options (10 as of Friday, June 12) to consider. Our offerings would be limited to very small group private lessons and private rentals (at the cost of approximately $120 per hour), with crowds again not to exceed 10 people. There are a whole slew of hygiene requirements that look nothing like previous years’ efforts. Public access to the change rooms, shower, and clubhouse would also be limited.

We then considered risk management – both for our community and our staff. This analysis did not support opening the pools. And of course, we are stewards of taxpayer money, and that factors into such decisions.

Again, I want to assure you that I took the efforts to balance those considerations against the mental health and need for “release” in our community, which I do take very seriously. I’ve shown my commitment to improving our community’s mental health through my term so far.

Cumulatively, the factors were creating a case of very restricted use and very onerous cleaning and disinfecting requirements that would need extra staff support, and extra $, when in fact we would be drawing in less revenue and thus require subsidy from taxpayer dollars. On Monday, June 8, the province indicated that it was prepared to launch Stage 2 and change some of the restrictions for our area. We reconsidered against that information, but nothing about the guidance for the management of our pools was significantly changed, except that 10 people might gather versus 5 effective June 12. And it was on that basis – a whole picture – that the decision was made. (You might be amused to learn that once I had indicated my thinking and choice, I asked staff to “fight with me”, to make sure my thinking was reasoned. It didn’t happen, no sword duels were held.)

We didn’t lump the splash pad decision in with the pools but considered it on its own merits. We know that they too are permitted to be opened by the province. We know that the splash pad serves a youthful user base, who of course struggle with understanding physical distancing. Based on our review of the provincial allowances, we realized that to open the splash pad:

1. We would have to fence in the area per provincial guidance;
2. We would have to either paint circles to reinforce social distancing (like Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto) or only permit one family in at a time. (And the painted circles idea might not be sufficient…);
3. We would have to have people book appointments to avoid congregating at a gate for entry (and we judged the success of that as unlikely);
4. We would need a dedicated staff person at all times (which may include the engagement of a security guard) monitoring, controlling access to, and supervising patrons in the splash pad area to ensure that we reduced the likelihood of gathering beyond the limits and anticipated pushy behaviour. An additional staff person would be required to support water safety and appropriate use inside the facility; and
5. We would need a hygiene person to support the cleaning requirements imposed by the provincial instructions.

These impediments did not sound like an appetizing or socially acceptable collection of actions, and they would come with increased costs. I just struggled with the thought of controlling which kids can play in the splash pad, and with kids (and their parents) understanding and respecting physical distancing in lining up for their appointment and inside the facility. It adds up to something very difficult to execute in a timely fashion and manage on an ongoing basis. And so, as a separate decision, I decided that we should keep this closed as well. This one we will revisit a bit later in the summer, as we get a sense of the weather conditions because I am very attuned to the fact that some families will be affected by this and the lack of a cooling substitute. But the current set of restrictions just don’t make opening the splash pad practical.

Know that we are trying to have rapid solutions developed for alternative socially-distanced programming. We are talking about child-minding needs created by our cancellation of summer weekly day camps (which some use as a child care strategy over the summer). And we may discuss more some concepts around cooling stations. But I will also assert – government cannot do everything for everyone. As much as my inner social justice warrior appreciates concerns about equity and the need for community supports across the life span, we just have to use a balance of risks and efforts perspective in making significant decisions like this. Parents have responsibility for their children in a range of ways that government can (and should) never compensate for.

Now if only I had invested in stocks of companies that make lawn sprinklers (a staple of my youth) and slip and slide toys… ;-)

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