Town Of Oyster Bay Gives Update On Reopening Swimming Pools

OYSTER BAY, NY — Officials in the Town Of Oyster Bay plan to reopen public pools next month, several days after Nassau County pools resume operations.

A spokesman for the town told Patch in an email update Friday they're working to ensure community pools can open safely. Plans are to reopen pools Wednesday, July 8, though specific details could change as the date approaches.

Reopening municipal swimming pools has been a hot topic in Facebook groups and Patch's own Neighbor Posts. Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week said decisions on swimming pools will be left to local governments.

Initially the Town of Oyster Bay said it would reopen community pools no later than July 3, but acknowledged it was waiting further guidance from health officials.

Laura Curran, the Nassau County executive, said this week the county's outdoor pools would also open this summer.

"Beginning Friday, July 3rd, four of the six County pools —Cantiague Park, North Woodmere Park, Wantagh Park, and Christopher Morley Park — will be available for Nassau County residents only," she said. "We also anticipate guidance from the state that may allow us to open our two beach pools at Nickerson Beach."

In the Town of Hempstead, Supervisor Don Clavin said the town welcomes updated guidance concerning municipal pools, and has been waiting for further direction from public health officials on best practices to reopen.

"The township's primary concern, as always, is to safeguard the well-being of residents," Clavin said. "When the governor authorized the opening of beaches, we were ready to open safely, and are prepared to do the same once we are given the green light to open our town pools."

Chad Lupinacci, the Town of Huntington supervisor, told Patch his town is looking into plans to reopen to residents only in the coming weeks.

"Based on the successful phased reopening of our beaches with new safety measures in place, we are more confident now that we can provide an equally safe and fun experience at the Dix Hills Pool this summer, which will be open for our summer camps," Lupinacci said. "We are considering plans to open the pool to residents only in the coming weeks."