City of Portsmouth Prepares to Open Peirce Island Outdoor Pool on June 21

At the City Manager’s direction, the Recreation Department and DPW have worked with City Health Officer Kim McNamara to make several adjustments to the Peirce Island Outdoor Pool and bathhouse facility to allow the pool to open, by reservation, for the summer season, June 21 through August 20, 2021. The pool will be open from 11 am to 6 pm, seven days a week. Only Portsmouth residents will be admitted, with a limited number in each one-hour reservation block. Admission is free.

Reservations must be made online at the Recreation Department website, starting June 1, 2021. Walk-ups without a reservation will only be allowed entry if there are spots available. Swim lessons are not planned as of now due to the need for physical distance in the pool between instructor and student.

The following safety precautions will be in place:

1. The outdoor pool will be open to Portsmouth residents only, and each person must affirm that they are not ill, have not been ill and have not been in contact with someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19. A photo ID is required, to prove residency.
2. Pool use is by reservation only. Use is limited to one reservation per resident per day. Violators may have their ability to swim suspended. Each pool reservation is for a one-hour block of time and there will be a 30-minute gap between each block, for cleaning. Reservations may be made up to two days in advance, and up until 10 am the day-of. After 10am, residents will be able to call the pool at (603) 433-0039 for available spots. 
3. Individual pool users must maintain 6’ physical distancing both in and out of the pool, though family members are allowed in close proximity and it is expected adults will be close to small children in the pool. 12 lanes at the deep end of the pool will be set up to allow 12 individuals to swim in the middle of each 6' lane and remain 6 feet apart. The remaining zones of the pool will accommodate 38 people, either individually or in family groups. No lap swimming is allowed outside the lap lanes.
4. People must shower at home before coming to the pool, come dressed in their swimwear and be prepared to go home without using bathhouse changing areas.
5. The bathhouse will be reserved for toilet and immediate handwashing use only. The bathrooms will be stocked with hand soap, spray surface-sanitizer and paper towels.  
6. Masks are required for entering and exiting the facility and when using the restroom. Masks should not be worn in the pool. When you are sitting in your chair you may take off the mask.
7. There will be no tables set up or snack bar available this summer. Visitors may bring chairs/blankets/towels/etc. to sit on and refreshments to eat or drink.

City Manager Karen Conard noted, “Health Officer McNamara is comfortable with the City opening the outdoor pool at this time, with these guidelines in place. We all understand how important it is to give residents, especially children, options like the pool for healthy outdoor summer recreation and as a place to cool off in hot weather. We will be monitoring how this goes and may make adjustments as the season progresses. Please note that we may have to close the pool as a precaution if we begin to see another increase in local transmission of COVID-19.”