The Deer Park City posted to their website the news that due to COVID-19 and state restrictions that the pool would not be opening for its 2021 season. This will be the second year that the pool has been closed due to the pandemic.
This was decided based on a report from Brad Wainwright, Maintenance Superintendent for the Deer City to the Mayor Tim Verzal and City Council stating that he believed that the pool should remain closed for the 2021 season. He wrote about the challenges of meeting the requirements set by the Department of Health (DOH) for opening safely and finding certified trained lifeguards. He states in the memo, ”We are governed at the pool by the Spokane county health department, and we may not know for weeks what their new recommendations will be, this will not give us sufficient time to draft our own covid 19 safety plan, hire staff and give them the covid 19 safety training they will need for us to be in compliance.” The restrictions from the DOH can be viewed here: DPGazette.com/dohwater.
Questions have been raised on social media if this is the right choice to make for Deer Park when other city and county pools in Spokane County are opening. The Mayor currently is not allowing public input during City Hall Meetings, however, some of the community have asked people to contact their elected officials to have their voice be heard. There will be a meeting tonight, June 2nd, 2021, that will include Brad Wainwright’s report for the pool in the agenda.
City Council Meetings
- Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7pm.
Meetings can be heard live at:
On your phone by dialing 1-669-224-3412 and using access code 805-100-029. Minutes from past meetings, as well as the current night’s agenda, can be viewed and downloaded at: CityofDeerParkWa.com
