How long will it take pools, daycamps to re-open this summer in ‘yellow’ areas?

HARRISBURG, Pa. — With western Pennsylvania’s full transition to the ‘yellow’ area, restrictions on certain summer camp and “public bathing spaces” are being addressed.

“We understand the need to secure child care options as parents and caregivers return to work across the state,” Gov. Wolf said Friday.

That’s why any summer program that provides child care, enrichment and recreational activities for kids are now allowed to operate in counties that are in either the ‘yellow’ or ‘green’ phase. They do, however, need to develop a written health and safety plan.

“We know more now than we did two months ago or even three weeks ago, and as we learn more ... we can do things. We know things, we have models in place, we have worked with other states, other governors, other healthcare professionals, so we are adapting to new science,” Gov. Wolf said in response to a Channel 11 question about critics saying he was backpedaling on earlier plans and initiatives.

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The activities can be either indoor or outdoors, but it’s encouraged to maintain social distancing and keep the same group of people together on a daily basis to avoid cross-contamination. Children and youth are not required to wear a face covering, just encouraged, while adults are required.

Public playgrounds used by child care providers and summer programs in ‘yellow’ or ‘green’ counties are also part of Governor Wolf’s phased reopening plan.

Outdoor community pools and other public bathing spaces are also now permitted to operate in counties that are in either the ‘yellow’ or ‘green’ phase.

You can read more of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s FAQs HERE.

Channel 11 asked Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald about what these new rules may mean for local amusement parks like Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild.

He said it’s too soon to say how - and if - they’ll be impacted by this.

When it comes to county-run pools, Fitzgerald said they’ll have to take a look at what they can do, as well as with baby pools and spray parks, but emphasized that it’s too soon to make any decisions, with the hope of getting things into place by late June or early July.

Cranberry Township is drawing up a plan to reopen its water park. They are already training staff and lifeguards with the current safety guidelines.

Channel 11 is told families will likely have to bring their own chairs to the pool. They may also notice social distancing markers and signs around the pool, reminding people to stay six feet apart.

A big challenge will be limiting crowds -- so officials have decided to only allow Cranberry Township residents and water park members at the pool. However, members and residents are able to bring guests.

The target date to reopen the Cranberry Water Park is July 1. The township has made it very clear that they are trying their best to reopen the pool, but it is not a guarantee that it will open this summer.

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