We hope that you have heard the exciting news that we will be reopening our Aquatics Area on August 15th, with a Grand Reopening Event to follow on August 16th at 10:00 AM!
This reopening will be the culmination of a massive undertaking to completely renovate the pool area, something that has been long overdue and that will create a lasting and valuable resource for our community for years to come. We look forward to seeing you in the pool and hot tub!
Along with the physical changes to the department, we will be taking this opportunity to launch some much-needed operational improvements, as well. The first of these relates to our lane reservations system:
Starting August 15, 2024, we will no longer accept private lane reservations from members.
Implemented during the COVID era, the reservation system helped to ensure some measure of physical distancing at a time when the pandemic left everyone at risk. In more recent months we phased some of our reserved lanes out, converting them to permanently shared lanes. Overall, this change had positive effects and helped to create a smoother experience in the pool. We look forward to continuing this trend by operating our pool in much the same way as most other pools run their lanes, by providing an opportunity for swimming to nearly all people at all times, without the need for a reservation.
In some cases, lanes may still be closed and unavailable. These cases will be indicated on our hourly pool schedule displayed in the office window, and by signage at the ends of the lanes. They include: classes, Open Swim, swim lessons, swim coaching, rentals by special groups and closures to accommodate those with special needs. The schedule and signage will always inform you of these circumstances, and our knowledgeable staff is ready to help in case of any concerns or questions.
However, at all other times, the lanes will now be available for swimming without further steps required. All you need is a membership or a day pass, and you can hop right in!
“What if someone is already in a lane?” you might ask. In that case, you can share the lane with that swimmer by following friendly pool etiquette as described on our website here. Two people can split a lane; more than two people can circle swim. It’s a great way to meet new friends and share your workout space, much like you would when “working in” with someone in the gym!
In addition to our new lane policies, we also have updated footwear rules to share:
No shoes are permitted on the pool deck
Although this was always technically a rule, we recognized that the old deck did not have the cleanest, most sanitary appearance and therefore we did not always enforce the policy.
In order to protect our brand new, gorgeous pool deck, as well as to keep our bodies of water clean and our athletes safe, we will now be enforcing the “no shoes” rule on the pool deck moving forward. Boot trays will be provided so you can change out of your shoes before entering, as well as accompanying seating wherever possible.
Finally, some information about our back entrance:
Our accessible entrance near the Aquatics area is provided for athletes and users with limited mobility and/or those who are unable to navigate stairs. For safety and security reasons, it is not available as a convenience entrance. For more information on this policy, please feel free to reach out to our Front Desk staff.
Thank you for your attention to these changes and for your patience as we have worked to bring you an upgraded aquatics experience at GMCF. We look forward to welcoming you back!
