OSHKOSH (NBC 26) -- The City of Oshkosh announced Friday that the Pollock Community Water Park will not open this year due to coronavirus.
In a news release, the city cites multiple factors in keeping the park closed, including uncertainty of when the water park could potentially open, safety of the public and pool staff, and limitations imposed by social distancing.
The city manager also noted that the staff faced difficulty in adequately cleaning and disinfecting all the common-touch surfaces throughout the facility.
Another major factor in the decision was the shortage in staffing, the city says. According to the city, the staffing level was approximately 45% short of what is needed to operate the facility.
Due to the closure of school district facilities, the Recreation Department was unable to offer lifeguard training classes in the school pools during the school year as it typically would. The city says these classes account for a number of the lifeguard staff who are usually hired.
The city says it looks forward to reopening in 2021.
