They were not allowed to hang with friends because of social distance restrictions related to the coronavirus.
Their playgrounds are covered with caution tape.
Those in high school experienced no proms, no spring sports, and in most cases, just virtual high school graduations.
It’s fair to say 2020 has been all wet. But in fact, it’s just the opposite, as most public pools in the area have decided to not open or delay opening because of COVID-19.
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The summer just got longer and hotter for those wanting to swim or run through splash pads.
Tiphanie Howard, parks and recreation director for the City of Fairfield, said it best when talking about her department during a recent City Council meeting. She said it’s the job of parks and rec to “make fun happen.”
If you’re looking for water enjoyment, leave your bathing suit in the drawer.
Howard addressed the opening of the Fairfield Aquatic Center and the 37 “major requirements” from the state for pools to open. Some include adding staff to monitor social distancing, closing the pool every two hours for cleaning and installing physical barriers in the water to keep swimmers a safe distance apart.
She said the Aquatic Center averages 400-450 swimmers a day and going from that to the recommended number of 120 is “a very significant decrease.”
All of those factors, she said, would create “a negative experience” for patrons.
So the department is not opening the Aquatic Center this year because it’s prohibitive, a trend felt throughout the region. Howard said in a survey of municipal swimming pools from Dayton to Cincinnati, 30 said they were not opening, 17 said they were opening and seven were unsure.
This late in the season, those “unsure” probably won’t open, Howard said.
One of those planning to open is the Oxford Aquatic Center, said Casey Wooddell, parks and recreation director.
The center will open June 20 and swim times will be: noon to 3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. The center will be closed from 3-4 p.m. for “deep cleaning,” Wooddell said. He said high traffic areas will be constantly cleaned throughout the day.
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While the state recommended closing pools every two hours for cleaning, Wooddell said swimming for two hours “wasn’t worth the money” for the customers.
He said the department considered “every angle” before deciding to open the center. Besides the cleaning, a maximum of 200 people — about half of last year’s average — will be permitted inside the facility. Season memberships will not be sold for 2020.
He said since the center opened in 2019 it didn’t require significant, costly maintenance.
Wooddell said it was important to provide a recreational alternative to “return normalcy to the summer.”
Franklin’s swimming pool, located in Community Park, won’t open this year. Several splash pads in Hamilton and Middletown are still waiting word from the state when they can open.
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Jackie Phillips, health director for the City of Middletown, said the splash pads at Douglass Park and Smith Park don’t use chlorine and the water runs off and isn’t recycled.
Hamilton’s eight water features, six splash pads in neighborhoods and two in Marcum Park, won’t open until the city receives the OK from the governor or the city health department, said Steve Timmer, director of Hamilton Parks Conservancy that operates the parks.
Hamilton’s Health Commissioner Kay Farrar said the decision to keep the water attractions closed or reopen will be based on Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s recommendations.
“I do not know when/if that will happen,” she has said.
In other words, get the water hose out.
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