MEDFORD RECREATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR WRIGHT’S POND, TUFTS POOL FOR SUMMER 2020 SEASON
New policies, operating hours in place due to Covid-19.
MEDFORD
– The Medford Recreation Department announced this week its plans for
operations at Wright’s Pond and Tufts Pool, noting that hours of
operation and availability of day passes have changed for the 2020
summer season to ensure proper Covid-19 health and safety regulations
are in place.
“I
would like to thank the Recreation Director, Kevin Bailey and the
Recreation Department for working tirelessly to make sure that Wright’s
Pond and Tufts Pool will open for the summer. Coming up with a plan that
adheres to all state orders and all health and safety guidelines has
been very difficult,” said Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. “To keep
the Pond and Pool running safely and efficiently, including staff and
resources, we rely partially on the rates collected for daily use. With
challenging health and safety regulations now in place, and the
financial difficulties these may present, some cities and towns are
choosing not to open their public pools and beaches at all. Medford is
committed to providing these valuable recreational resources for
residents, but we still have to make sure all visitors and staff are
safe and remain healthy. Kevin and the entire Recreation Department have
been working with the Medford Board of Health and other departments to
put plans in place to open the pond and pool this summer, with new
regulations, and I am grateful for all of their work to make these
available for residents this year.”
While
plans and regulations are subject to change, please note the following
updates from the Recreation Department, and please bear with us as we
work to ensure health and safety of all users. You can also visit
www.medfordrecreation.org for details on each location and to purchase passes.
WRIGHT’S POND (anticipated opening date: July 1st)
Wright’s
Pond is much different in size than a typical public beach, which puts
constraints on the capacity limits, unfortunately, given current state
regulations. While we have received some great ideas on ways to reduce
occupancy or ways to fairly distribute visitation, some of these ideas
do not work within our operating system. Like many other recreation
departments, we are using permitting and ticketing software in a
different way than the system was originally created for. Our vendor is
working hard to meet some of the new requests but is limited in how much
can be changed before the beginning of the summer.
Medford
currently only has 24 lifeguards for both locations. While we begin
recruiting lifeguards in February, due to Covid-19 and related
restrictions, lifeguard class has been and continues to not be allowed
to be taught. This limits us to only hiring returning lifeguards for
this season. Lifeguards are going to be asked to clean on a regular
basis and wear face coverings during their entire shift, which will be
tough to do in the heat. The allotted hour to clean between shifts is
also an opportunity for staff to take a much-needed break.
Regrettably,
while updating the Medford Recreation website and uploading documents,
some of the information was posted on social media, leading to many
questions. Our intentions were to create the information on the website
and to email previous pass holders with additional information. Our
intent was to be clear and transparent about our process, only after
we had additional plans in place. We apologize for any
miscommunication. We will continue to notify the general public, and
communicate via email with previous passholders, with any other changes.
We
have listened to your concerns and appreciate your feedback. Based on
some of your suggestions, we have already changed the following:
- We
have changed the schedule to allow for evening use. Three days a week
(Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), the pond with have two shifts,
12:30-3:30 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m. The other days (Monday, Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday), the pond will be open for two different shifts,
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 2:30-5:30 p.m. We hope the later evenings will
help accommodate working parents, along with allowing other days to open
early morning for our seniors and stay at home parents who have
expressed the wish to have the pond open earlier in the day.
- While
developing a plan for pass sales, our original plan was to have a
discounted rate for children and seniors. At the time, this was not
possible. Mr. Bailey, along with other Recreation Directors who belong
to the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association, are using the same
software and approach to selling pond or pool passes. As an
Association, the request to discount prices based on age was given to
the software company. Working with Recreation Directors to address this
new need, the software company has just recently released that they were
able to create this new feature. With this new option, we will be
changing our fees to $4 per adult, $2 per child and $3 per senior.
Children under the age of 4 will be free. This fee structure has been
chosen as they are the same daily fee used at Tufts Pool last year and
has been voted by the Parks Commission. The reason for the initial $5
per person was based on the revenue loss and the city’s financial
situation. Last year, we sold $57,000 in vehicle passes. $5 per person
would have brought in a maximum of $25,000 creating a larger deficit
than the pond usually endures from previous years. Recreation will look
for other revenue producing solutions to help cover the additional loss
in revenue.
- As
with previous years, we are working with the Medford Family Network to
support families that cannot afford the daily fee. To inquire about that
assistance program, you can call the Medford Family Network at (781)
393-2106 or email mcassidy@medford.k12.ma.us.
- Unfortunately,
this cannot be a season as prior years have been where families can
visit every day. Due to the fact we are still in a pandemic and have
capacity limitations, this is meant to give families an opportunity to
visit the pond occasionally. We ask that when booking during the
first week you only book three slots to allow for as many residents as
possible to have the opportunity to visit. Passes will then go
one sale each Monday for the following week. We hope this will allow
those who do not have access to a computer and must rely on the
telephone, will continue to have an equal opportunity to make
reservations. When booking by phone please call (781) 393-2486.
TUFTS POOL (anticipated opening date: July 7th)
Tufts
Pool will have similar restrictions but has a different schedule and
daily fee structure to help give residents different options they feel
is best for them. The pool will be open Tuesday-Sunday from 12:30 to
2:00 p.m., or 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., or 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. With shorter swim
times, fees to use the pool are 50% less than Wright’s Pond. The fees
will be as follows: Adult $2 | Child & Senior $1. While the pool is
open to both Medford residents and non-Medford residents, passes for
Medford residents will be offered at a lower rate.
The
pool must be closed on Mondays as the Covid-19 guidelines require the
Recreation Director to increase the chlorine (shock) the pool each week.
Additional maintenance and cleaning will be performed on Mondays as
well.
Adult Lap swim, camps, and programming will not
be scheduled this year. Lap swim will be available at the Medford High
School Pool when the state moves into Phase III. Lap Swim will continue
to be offered at Wright’s Pond.
The
pool will be rented to swim teams as allowed under phase II for youth
sports. These rentals are to help offset the loss in revenue this year
from aquatic programs and membership fees at the pool and pond. We will
only be renting to times the facility was closed to the public in
previous years.
- Financial
aid will continue to be offered through Medford Family Network. To
inquire about that assistance program, you can call the Medford Family
Network at (781) 393-2106 or email mcassidy@medford.k12.ma.us.
The
Recreation Department and the Mayor’s Office would like to thank
Medford residents for their continued support and understanding as we
navigate through these difficult times. As the Mayor and Recreation
Director both have families and young children, we share with you the
frustration this pandemic has created and the disappointment when we
continue to see our normal routine disrupted. Our mission has been and
will continue to be to keep our facilities open while maintaining a safe
environment and keeping the city financially stable.
Medford
city services are available to all residents, regardless of economic
situation, race, gender, immigration status, ability, benefit
eligibility, or religious affiliation.
