Mt. Lebanon Swim Center to operate ‘in the normal fashion’
As of Memorial Day weekend, the Mt. Lebanon Swim Center is back in business and, if you will, partying like it’s 2019.
“Although we previously announced that reservations would be required and that we would be capping attendance, we will be operating the pool in the normal fashion,” said Laura Lilley, municipal public information officer.
During Mt. Lebanon Commission’s virtually conducted discussion session on Tuesday, she provided an update about various reopenings and scheduled events as restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 continue to relax. Effective May 31, all mitigation is lifted in Pennsylvania except for masks for unvaccinated individuals.
As such, the municipal recreation department is in the process of updating rules for participation in activities while continuing to follow state Department of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.
“Right now, that would mean unvaccinated people must wear masks indoors, and they must also wear them outdoors unless six feet of distance can be maintained from those outside of their household,” Lilley said. “Fully vaccinated individuals don’t need to wear masks inside or outside.
“Social distancing and frequent hand washing are encouraged,” she continued. “And in general, we’re asking people to protect themselves and others and asking them not to attend any programs if they feel sick or otherwise at risk.”
For programs with ongoing sessions that wrap up after May 31, current protocols will continue to apply, according to recreation director David Donnellan.
“We’re not flipping a switch, necessarily. It does take some time to transition over,” he said.
The Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center is scheduled to resume many of its usual operations June 1, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to everything that takes place in the building.
“We have a wonderful ice rink facility, and it’s not been open to the public,” Mindy Ranney, commission president, said. “You have to be part of a club sport to have access to it for over a year now. That’s just COVID. I understand. But I would like to see a plan for providing that public facility, giving access to the public.”
Donnellan assured her that plans are being formulated.
“Summer isn’t really a great time to bring back public skating. I don’t know if that would be worthwhile or not,” he said. “But we’re going to look at everything, and see how quickly we can bring back our programming and what makes sense.”
Regarding a municipal tradition that’s returning for 2021, the July 4 celebration at Mt. Lebanon’s Main Park will feature a concert at 7:30 p.m., and fireworks at 9:30. The performer for the concert has yet to be announced.
“Rides and other daytime attractions are canceled this year but will return next year,” Lilley said.
Monthly First Friday events in the Uptown business district also could reappear on the schedule.
“The intent with that is to bring it back later in the summer, but we need to hear from the Vibrant Uptown contractors to find out what that’s going to look like and what areas we’re going to be able to use,” Lilley said, referring to the large-scale improvement project taking place along Washington Road.