East Hartford’s Outdoor Pools to Open Monday, July 6, 2020

East Hartford, CT – The Town of East Hartford will be opening its outdoor pools on Monday, July 6^th, 2020.  The Parks and Recreation Department Staff have been working with local and state agencies to comply with social distancing regulations, capacity restrictions, disinfecting and other procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to ensure the safety of our lifeguard staff and all of our swimmers. 

Pool hours have been adjusted to provide for increased scheduled cleaning times throughout the day. We know that our residents have been anxiously awaiting for the pools to open, and we want to share some information about the changes in our operations. 

To view our pool rules and hours in a printer-friendly format, please click here. 

East Hartford Pools Are Open to Residents Only

This summer, in order to maximize available time for residents, East Hartford’s Public Pools will not be open to non-residents. Children ages 12 and older may use the facilities independently.  Children 11 and under must be accompanied by a responsible person age 16 or older. East Hartford residents ages 7 and older must provide ID to prove residency for admission to our facilities. Those without proof of residency will not be permitted entry into our facilities. 

• Children ages 7-15 may present a 2019-2020 East Hartford Public Schools ID OR a Parks and Recreation Youth ID.  Youth ID cards are available for children ages 7-15 from East Hartford Parks and Recreation.  The cost is $6.00 and IDs are valid for three years.  For more information on obtaining a youth IT, please call Parks and Recreation at 860-291-7160.
• Adults ages 16 and older must present Driver’s License/permit or State Issued ID Card. Those are the only acceptable forms of ID for adults.

To apply for a Youth ID please fill out an application here. 

To apply for a copy of a lost Youth ID, please fill out this application form

Pool Locations and Hours

East Hartford offers five beautiful outdoor pools, each one with its own unique features and characteristics. 

• Terry Pool – located in Hockanum Park at 320 High Street:  A 50 meter pool with a diving board and a high dive.  Olympic size!
  • Public Swim:  Monday - Friday, 1:30-4pm and 5:30-7pm; Saturday/Sunday, 1-5pm
  • Adult Lap Swim:  Monday - Friday, 4:30-5:30pm 
     
• Martin Pool – located in Martin Park at 307 Burnside Avenue:  A historic rectangular pool dating back to 1938, with a separate fenced wading pool. 
  • Public Swim:  Monday - Friday, 12-3:30pm, 4-7pm; Saturday/Sunday, 1-5pm
• Drennan Pool – located in McAuliffe Park at 30 Remington Road:  A rectangular pool with a ramp for accessible entry.
  • Public Swim:  Monday - Friday, 12-3:30pm, 5-6:30pm; Saturday/Sunday, 1-5pm
  • Senior Swim: Monday - Friday, 4-5pm
• Lord Pool – located in Gorman Park at 258 May Road:  A large pool with a ramp for accessible entry, water slide, and a separate fenced wading pool.
  • Public Swim:  Monday - Friday, 1:30-4pm, 5:30-7pm; Saturday/Sunday: 1-5pm
  • Senior Swim:  Monday - Friday, 9-10am, 4:30-5:30pm
• Goldstar Pool – located in Goodwin Park at 1235 Forbes Street:  A family friendly pool with a gently sloped depth and a mushroom water sprinkler feature. 
  • Public Swim:  Monday - Friday, 1:30-4pm, 4:30-6:30pm; Saturday/Sunday: 1-5pm
     

Capacity Restrictions

The number of people allowed in our facilities has been reduced to accommodate social distancing. The set capacity is based on the area of the facility, both in the water and on available deck space, excluding walkways and common areas.  At times, our pools may be closed when we reach capacity. We will do our best to have signs at the front of the facility when pools are closed at capacity. We welcome you to wait until some guests leave, or visit another one of our pools.  We encourage you to ask the lifeguards for suggestions on another pool to visit which may not be at capacity. 

Increased Cleaning and Sanitization

The pool hours have been adjusted for regularly scheduled cleaning and sanitization. Although our facilities will be disinfected regularly, we ask that residents shower at home, prior to visiting our pools, and wear bathing suits to and from the facility when possible to reduce the number of people using restrooms, showers and changing areas. 

Masks and Face Coverings

All residents must wear face masks or coverings when entering/exiting the facilities, using the restrooms, or moving about on deck.  Children are not required to wear masks, but we do recommend it when possible.  Children under age 3 should not wear masks, and those with medical issues are not required to wear masks.  Marks should never be worn when swimming underwater.  Our staff will wear masks when social distancing is not possible, but will not wear masks while in elevated lifeguard chairs. 

Social Distancing

Social distancing while at our facilities is the primary responsibility of our swimmers. However, our staff may request more physical space between groups when necessary.  Social distancing of at least 6 feet between non-family members must be maintained at all times while in the facility, on deck or in the water. 

Coolers, Food/Beverages, Equipment

We request that our residents bring in a plastic bag to carry out your own garbage.  Guests are encouraged to bring a water bottle as water fountains may be closed.  Guests may bring in a chair and a small cooler, but no large coolers or tables/furniture will be permitted.  Meals beyond a small snack must be enjoyed outside our facilities.  We will not have any pool equipment available for shared use, and we ask swimmers not to share goggles or any other equipment with members outside your family. 

We Need Your Help

Public pools are required to abide by specific regulations in order to operate this summer, and failure to abide by these regulations may jeopardize our ability to remain open.  We are grateful for our lifeguards who will be working hard this summer to make sure that our facilities are safe and supervised.  They are required to enforce rules that may be difficult at times.  We ask for your understanding and patience in working with us as we navigate these new changes to our rules and operating procedures.  We are opening our pools for the benefit of our residents, and we want to make sure that it is a safe and enjoyable experience for all. 

For more information about any of our outdoor aquatic facilities, pool hours, or rules, please visit www.easthartfordct.gov or call the Parks and Recreation office at 860-291-7160.