Season Opening June 1, 2020

Hello Shark Family!!

We hope this newsletter finds everyone is safe and well. We look forward to seeing you all this summer and look forward to getting started as soon as possible! However, as I am sure you are aware, we are in uncharted waters with the Corona Virus pandemic. To open the pool to members and maintain everyone’s safety, we are going to implement some new policies as we ease into Phase 2. These new procedures will limit the risk of anyone contracting the virus at Sherwood but we cannot completely remove this risk.

We will need the cooperation and patience of everyone for this to be implemented successfully. Please understand that these rules are fluid and will change as the season progresses and we appreciate your patience as we work to have the pool open as much as possible with everyone’s safety in mind. The pool staff will work diligently to clean and disinfect the facility during the day but it will be the patron’s responsibility to maximize its effectiveness by following the rules that we have adopted, with certain modifications, from The Pool Management Group. This organization helps pool facilities serve their customers. These rules follow CDC guidelines and we have tried to relate them to our particular situation. Below are the new procedures. We expect these to be temporary and we will make changes as the state and local guidelines change. We hope to increase the availability of the pool as soon as it is safe to do so.

1 – In order to adhere to the state guidelines for social distancing we will limit the number of individuals permitted to use the pool at any time to 15 family groups up to 50 people maximum. This is the maximum capacity for our deck space to maintain a six-foot distance between individuals as advised by health officials. However, we will allow immediate family members to sit as a family group. We will also have the tables available to reserve for family groups on a first come first serve basis. No guests will be allowed until further notice. We want our members the opportunity to enjoy the pool.

2- Pool hours will be from 9 am to 9 pm. With a membership as large as we have, and with capacity limitations, we will need to limit the amount of time each individual can spend at the pool per day and per week in order to provide access to all in as equitable a way as possible. We have divided the day into 2-hour blocks for reservations. A family will be restricted to 1 block per day with a maximum of 3 blocks Monday-Friday and 1 block on Saturday or Sunday. Reservations for these blocks will be made online using Sign-Up Genius (a link will be sent out soon). Depending on pool utilization we hope to be able to offer additional blocks for each family. This will be adjusted and exceptions will be made on days when maximum capacity is not met. Those who want to check on availability will need to call the designated pool staff at that time (3367233971). Space will then be given on a first come first serve basis.

3- Lap swimming will be available with a separate reservation for 1 hour in the morning (9 am-9:45 am) and 1 hour in the evening (8pm-8:45pm). Lap swimming will be restricted to members 18 and over with no children permitted on the deck at that time.

4- With cleanliness being an essential preventative infection measure, arrival times for reservations will be at beginning of the hour of reservation. Departure time will be 20 minutes before the reservation terminates. This means that pool access will only be 1 hour and 40 minutes per reservation. The 20-minute window between those leaving and new arrivals will give pool staff time to disinfect tables and other pool equipment for the next group of patrons. To compensate for the loss time, pool check will be suspended during the reservation period. We hope to expand the time frames as we are able to have more people on deck.

5- Also with regards to facility cleanliness, the bathhouse will be restricted to bathroom purposes only. We ask that members come dressed for the pool. The changing rooms and showers in the bath house will not be open. We will also limit the capacity of both boy’s and girl’s facilities to 2 individuals at a time in order to continue to allow for social distancing.

6- Entrance and exit to the pool will be limited to the front gate. When members arrive for their block, they will check in with a staff member. Please practice social distancing while you wait to check in by maintaining 6 feet between families. There will be lines marked on the concrete at 6-foot intervals.

7- Because it is not possible or safe for our staff to be constantly cleaning equipment during swim time the diving boards, ping pong, fuse ball table, basketball, volleyball, and wall ball will not be initially available.

8- Initially, concession will be offered with remote ordering only through the website (link to follow with the Sign Up Genius reservations email). All transactions will be remote and payment will be with credit cards. The vending machines will not be in use. We will re-evaluate this decision as the summer progresses and if things are going well. We invite you to bring your own snacks and drinks (No glass containers please).

9- Members are encouraged to wear cloth masks on the pool deck. Masks are not allowed in the water. All staff will wear masks unless they are the lifeguard on duty in the stand.

10- No one should come to the pool who is not feeling well, has had a temperature within the previous 48 hours, continual cough, any symptoms of illness, or has been around anyone with these same symptoms. If you, or someone in your family has been tested for COVID 19 and you do not know the results yet, do not come to the pool. Failure to follow this request could result in temporarily suspended pool operations and it risks transmission of illness to other members.

***Note: Staff’s primary responsibility is the safety of the members in the pool and on deck. Policing these policies that we expect you to follow would distract them from their primary duties. We ask for your cooperation in following these guidelines to ensure that we can have the pool available as best as possible. If individuals are constantly violating rules for social distancing, the staff has the authority to ask for removal and restriction of further use of the pool.

This is not the way we would like to start the summer swimming season but it is the safest way to be open and limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission. We are easing into NC Phase 2 reopening using guidelines from Governor Roy Cooper, the Forsyth County Health Department, the CDC, and the Pool Management Group and plan to use this guidance as we continually evaluate the safest plan for working through Phase 2 into Phase 3. You will be receiving a follow up email* with links to sign up by Friday morning, so please be on the lookout.

Sincerely,

Pool Management and the Pool Board

*we apologize in advance for the increased number of Constant Contact emails you will be receiving. This is the best way to stay informed. If you have not joined our Facebook group, please do so (sherwood sharks - Winston salem).

Below is an email sent from the Pool Board on April 9, 2020.  If you did not receive this email, please reach out to Holly Evans at Hevans1024@aol.com to receive future Sherwood Pool emails.

Hello Everyone,

We have not received further guidance from the city on restrictions that would need to be in place for phase 2 opening and we do not have more information on when that will happen. We have researched what some local businesses are currently doing and have read articles about transmission risks at pools to develop some initial ideas. 

- Because of the chlorine, sun, and wind a pool is not a place where the virus can survive for long. The highest risk of transmission is on surfaces and between people. 

- We are getting quotes for a professional cleaning service that can help maintain the cleanliness of the pool. They have already applied an antimicrobial treatment to the pool surfaces. However, please remember that cleaning surfaces is not a replacement for members practicing good hand hygiene.

- When we open, we will limit the number of people at the pool at one time. Families will sign up for blocks of time when they will visit the pool. We will separate the blocks with a sufficient amount of time so all pool members will leave and give the staff time to clean surfaces.  

- The water fountain, vending machines, foosball table, and ping pong table will be closed or put away. 

- The staff will create groups of chairs for families. These groups will be 6 feet apart. 

We may change these procedures if we are given additional guidance from the government. 

Thank you in advance for your flexibility and your compliance with our requests. We are working hard to determine the best way to move forward. We will provide you with another update by May 24th, unless we get additional guidance from the city before then. 

Sincerely,

The Sherwood Pool Board

Below is an email sent from the Pool Board on April 9, 2020.  If you did not receive this email, please reach out to Holly Evans at Hevans1024@aol.com to receive future Sherwood Pool emails.

Hello Everyone,

We know this is a difficult time for everyone and we realize many of our members have been affected personally or financially by the global pandemic. Below is our plan for the summer. We understand there is still some uncertainty, but we are working hard to optimize savings for our membership while still being good financial stewards of Sherwood Pool. Please make sure we have your most up-to-date email so we can effectively communicate changes to you ( update membership information here ) All announcements will be emailed via constant contact, posted on the pool web page, and posted on the Sherwood Facebook page. We wanted to give you a tentative update on the board’s decisions today (5/4/2020) and we will send you another update by May 15th. We will continue to update you at least every two weeks until we open.

Opening

The pool has been inspected and we are ready to open whenever we get approval. Our opening date will be dictated by local and state government regulations. There is a shelter in place order until May 8th. The city classifies pools as an entertainment venue and these facilities fall into the phase 2 category of business that will be allowed to open. The timeline for opening phase 2 is between 2 and 4 weeks after May 8th. If we are able to open at that time, it will put us close to opening on time. Be aware that the government might delay opening or open these venues then have to close them again if we have increasing transmission of COVID. We have approval from our inspector to keep the pool open later, into September, if we do have a delayed opening.

What will the pool be like this year?

If there are regulations around gathering sizes, we may have to limit the number of members at the pool at one time. If this is the case, we will create an online system so families can reserve times to come visit the pool. We may have to observe social distancing with minimum spacing between seating. We may have to close the locker room (bathroom facilities available) and have limited or no concessions. All of these actions will be guided by local regulations. A good video to watch features Dr. Chris Ohl who is an infectious disease specialist at Wake Forest Baptist Health. He is working with the city to determine how to reopen (around minute 23 he discusses how pools can open this year, https://www.wxii12.com/article/dr-christopher-ohl-north-carolina-relax-stay-at-home-order/32254382)

Dues

The pool has strict by-laws that prohibit dues refunds. However, the stated purpose of membership dues is to provide funds for pool operation. At the end of the year, we will determine the cost of operating the pool this year. Regretfully, right now we do not know how much it will cost because we don’t know how long we will be open. While some of our costs vary with how long we are open (example: lifeguard salaries), some of our costs occur even if we do not open (example: property taxes). If we can not have a full season, we will reduce the dues amount for all active members for the 2021 season. This money will be placed in your membership deposit; therefore, if you sell you membership next year you will receive more than your initial $100 payment.

Swim Team

We are working with our swim league to see how we might move forward with swim team. There is a possibility that we could have a limited season in July. Regardless of what happens this summer, all seniors are granted an additional year of eligibility. The swim team dues will be reduced. If people pay for swim team and we have to cancel, we will refund all swim team payments. Be on the look-out for an email with sign up information. Do not enroll your child if they cannot independently swim the length of the pool. (If you have not received swim team emails in the past and want to be added to the swim team mailing list, email KIM FANSLER )

Members Helping Members

There is a member led initiative to help our pool family. If you have lost your job or have reduced hours, we have members of the pool family that have resources to help you. Please reach out to Nissa Vogel if you need help or if you would like to help.

Thank you, Sherwood Family, for trusting the board to make the best decisions for operating the pool. We know this is a difficult time, but we will help each other through it. We look forward to seeing everyone this year and we are hopeful that by 2021 we will be back to normal.

Sincerely,

The Sherwood Pool Board

Below is an email sent from the Pool Board on April 9, 2020.  If you did not receive this email, please reach out to Holly Evans at Hevans1024@aol.com to receive future Sherwood Pool emails.

Hello Sherwood Families,

We hope this letter finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. The past few weeks have, undoubtedly, been some of the most life-changing weeks we've seen in modern times. We are hoping and praying that the extreme social distancing will prove effective to slow the spread of this illness and that we'll all soon be back to normal. Please know that the pool board is closely monitoring the situation. We continue to prepare for opening in mid-May, but we just don't know yet. We encourage you to stay home and follow the guidelines set forth by the CDC and our local/state government.


Please continue to read our emails from constant contact. We will also post updates on the pool website and Facebook If you have any questions, please reach out through the pool website or email the pool board here.


Sincerely,

The Sherwood Pool Board

Several generous members of the Sherwood Pool community have offered to help their neighbors. If you need help, or fell led to help in anyway, please reach out confidentially to our member led group at this email. We are going to get through this! 

THANK YOU!


WE KNOW MANY OF OUR POOL MEMBERS ARE FRONT LINE ESSENTIAL FOLKS AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR COURAGE AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY!