The Guthrie Center Parks and Recreation Board sought to give residents something enjoyable this summer with having the aquatic center open.

The pool opened on June 15th, a few weeks later than normal because of Governor Kim Reynolds’ earlier public health emergency proclamations, and the first couple weeks of opening included several adaptations of the staff’s protocol for allowing patrons entry and testing them for COVID-19. While the boys and girls little league seasons were cancelled this summer, Parks and Rec. Board President Chris Bunde says he received positive feedback on opening the pool this year, “I do know that I personally heard a number of folks in person in Guthrie Center and other communities being very happy that we had opened to give community members and folks in surrounding communities the opportunity to enjoy some sense of normalcy this summer.”

Bunde notes he did receive some criticism about COVID-19 exposure risks from having the pool open, but he believes the Board and staff did all they could to mitigate the situation, and they only had to turn away a few patrons after undergoing COVID-19 screenings. The pool did close a little sooner than usual this past Sunday, which Bunde explains is for the City to remain on schedule for demolition of the poolhouse to make way for construction of a new pool house and public restroom facility, which he looks forward to having in operation next summer.