With greatly reduced capacity, West University Place will begin reopening municipal buildings and recreational facilities and programs Monday (June 1) and is working to have everything in place to open Colonial Park Pool on June 8.
Most activities will require reservations for blocks of time, which are available online at westutx.gov/reg or by calling 713-662-7420 during business hours. Reservations may be made 72 hours in advance, and only one reservation may be made each day.
Only the Community Building, which hosts seniors’ activities, and the seniors’ transportation program will remain closed because of concerns about the effects of the coronavirus on those 65 and older. The city is recommending that older residents continue to stay at home and generally limit their contact with outsiders, avoiding contact altogether for 14 days with anyone who has been outside the home.
What West U staff calls the “start back to the new normal” next week looks like this, in response to the phased easing of state and county restrictions:
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS (beginning June 1)
•West U will comply with public health guidelines limiting occupancy to 25 percent of normal capacity.
•City Hall, Police Department and Public Works will be open 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
•Residents are still encouraged to continue to conduct customer service transactions remotely when possible, rather than in person.
•Those coming to any city facility are “highly encouraged to wear an appropriate face covering.”
COMMUNITY BUILDING
•Remains closed until further notice.
•Virtual programming continues for seniors, including a weekly telephone bingo game. Offerings may be viewed at westutx.gov/activities. Anyone wishing to offer an idea for a virtual program should call 713-662-5895.
FACILITY & RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING (beginning June 1)
•Recreation Center will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
•Recreation Center lap swimming: 25 percent occupancy, reservations required for 45-minute blocks. Locker rooms and showers will continue to be closed under state order, so participants must be dressed to swim and leave in their swim attire.
•Weight room: 25 percent occupancy, reservations required for 45-minute blocks.
Racquetball courts: Reservations will be required, and only one person per court or up to four members from the same household will be permitted to play.
•Recreational programming: Select recreational programming will begin on June 1. For a complete listing of classes and camps, please visit www.westutx.gov/activities starting May 26.
COLONIAL PARK POOL (tentative reopening June 8)
•The opening date hinges on whether staff can train the new seasonal lifeguards in time but may be delayed “for a few days.” All information and reservations will be available at westutx.gov/colonial
•Hours are from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
•Reservations for 90-minute blocks are required through the website, with capacity limited to 25 percent. Thirty-minute cleaning sessions will be scheduled between the blocks for maximum sanitation and safety.
•To comply with the state order, the children’s interactive water play feature, floating log and alligator will not be available, and basketball rims and the volleyball net have been removed.
•With the necessary inspections and certification not able to be completed because of the stay-at-home orders, the new waterslide might not be open by June 8. However West U staff is working to have everything in place by June 8.
Questions about parks and recreation facilities and programming can be directed to staff at 713-662-7420.
West U offers the latest on city, county and state news resulting from the COVID-19 crisis at westutx.gov/covid19, and urges residents to sign up for news alerts at westutx.gov/list.aspx, clicking on “Coronavirus/COVID-19 Updates” to subscribe..
Facebook Comments