The Santa Barbara City Parks & Recreation Department will reopen Los Baños del Mar Pool for lap swimming on Tuesday, the department announced Thursday.
The pool will operate under modified regulations in accordance with recent Santa Barbara County Health Department orders.
Lane capacity will be limited to one swimmer per lane, and swimmers must reserve a spot in advance online. The daily fee is $10.
Lap swim times will be one hour with 15-minute transitions. The pool staff will disinfect high-use areas of the pool facility between swim times.
To maximize swim times while following local health orders, lane availability has been adjusted and includes two 50-meter lanes, 10 25-meter lanes and two 15-meter lanes.
Social distancing protocols will be in place at the pool, and details will be posted at the facility. Swimmers should bring all needed equipment, including a mask or other cloth face covering to wear until reaching your reserved lane, and for restroom access.
The Carpinteria community pool opened for lap swimming this past Monday.
Swimmers are required to book their swim times online 24 hours in advance. Only five swimmers per hour will be allowed in the 10-lane pool.
Under health and safety guidelines, swimmers should come ready to get in the water as the locker rooms for changing clothes will be off limits. They also have to bring a hand sanitizer.
The daily fee is $7, with the option of getting 10 passes for $45. There are discounts for seniors and youth swimmers.
Swimming pools at fitness facilities remain closed.
The Los Baños del Mar lap swim times are as follows:
Monday through Friday: 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Guidlines for swimmers:
» Advance lane reservation required.
» Swimmers will arrive dressed in a bathing suit and ready to swim. No deck changing allowed.
» Limited restroom facilities and sinks are available, but swimmers are encouraged to arrive without the need for those facilities. Masks must be worn while using indoor facilities.
» Swimmers will enter through the west gate entrance at the rear of the pool.
» Swimmers will be greeted by a City employee when arriving to check in.
» Swimmers will be directed to their assigned lane.
» Swimmers shall wear a mask until entering assigned lane.
» Lifeguards will sound a horn twice as five (5) minute warning before the end of each session. Lifeguards will sound one long horn to signal the end of each session.
» At the conclusion of each session, swimmers will exit the pool promptly, gather their belongings, and exit the facility via the east gate.
» Lifeguards will disinfect all high use areas and surfaces between swim times, including but not limited to restrooms, sinks, and facility fixtures.
» Swimmers must swim in the middle of the lane. No congregating in the water, on the walls or bulkheads, or on the pool deck. No spectators.
» Locker and shower access will be unavailable.
» Kickboards and pull buoys will be unavailable
» Public drinking fountains are closed.
» Poolside benches shall be removed or made unavailable.
» Items left behind will be discarded.
» Pool safety rules are not optional. Failure to adhere to these rules will result in removal from the facility and possible suspension of future lap swim privileges.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.