Chester Pool Opening As Early As Monday

CHESTER, NJ - The Chester Pool is in the final stages of being prepped and inspected with the hope to open on or about Monday now that Gov. Phil Murphy's COVID-19 restrictions are easing, according to officials.

While they work to open within the confines of the current executive orders, the registration process will begin Wednesday:

• Payment will be accepted to complete the registration process Wednesday.
• You do not have to have been preregistered to apply for membership.
• Membership application must be made online or dropped off at the municipal building.
• No applications will be accepted at the pool.

Due to COVID-19, there will be some changes in pool protocol. All of these can be found in the Pool Rules, but here are some of the highlights:

• Members will have to make a reservation for the days they wish to come to the pool. This can be done up to two weeks in advance. You can use Community Pass to make these reservations. The reason for this is twofold: we don’t anticipate issues with capacity but we need to track it anyway, and this will enable us to generate an attendance check-off sheet so we won’t have to use the scanner. Please do not make a reservation unless you are reasonably sure you are coming. Frequent no-shows may be subject to membership suspension.
• Guest passes will not be available for several weeks until we are sure we have all the kinks worked out for the new protocols.
• Social distancing will have to be observed. We have plenty of space, and we will arrange the chairs at some distance from each other to take advantage of it, but not everyone will be able to sit close to the pool.
• Masks will be recommended but not required.
• Foot coverings will be required within restrooms and shower areas.

Patrons may be subject to possible suspension and/ or revocation without reimbursement of membership fees if they do not follow the directives of pool staff when asked, officials said.

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