Rochester swimming spots closed for the season

Rochester Parks and Recreation announced Wednesday plans to keep public swimming facilities closed for the season.

Park officials said the decision to shut down Foster Arend Beach, Silver Lake Pool and Soldiers Field Pool this summer is due to the “level of public congregation that takes place at aquatic facilities,” as well as the costs associated with staffing the pools. As a result of the pandemic, parks and rec is expecting its revenue to drop by nearly $2.4 million this year.

Additional measures being taken to address the budget shortfall include less frequent mowing, keeping sports fields to a minimum standard, and not maintaining some flowerbeds and other landscaped areas. Exterior lighting at sports complexes, fields and courts also remains off for the time being.

The one area the department pledged to focus resources on this year is the maintenance of playground equipment, structures and other park amenities. Park officials gave the OK Wednesday for people to resume using playgrounds. The relaxing of rules extends to the Silver Lake skate park, which had been sealed off to prevent groups from gathering.

The parks department emphasized that public areas will not be sanitized, putting the responsibility on users to prevent contamination. Park visitors are asked to wash their hands before and after play, stay home if sick, and follow the social distancing guidelines laid out by the CDC.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.