MCA Meeting Recap: April/May 2021
Preface
The following information is a synopsis of the last two MCA meetings, which dealt largely with the pools reopening. News from the last two meetings has been combined as much of the information was not available until now. The following is not the voice of any one person but a compilation of voices in attendance, which included but was not limited to MCA Board Members and Delegates, some of whom serve concurrent roles. As an organization, the MCA is always learning, and will continue to reevaluate its COVID plans, as such the following information is subject to change. If you believe something was stated in error, please feel free to reach out to your community delegate for clarity, thank you.
Phase 1 Opening Plans
Contact tracing is no longer a requirement, and consequently pool reservations will be smoother this year. The pools will have a soft opening over Memorial Day, May 31st, via the reservation system for active pass holders.
Starting on June 1st the pools will be open at full capacity to the public. Please note there will be no guests, no public entry, until June 1st. So, you must be an active pass member to enter on Memorial Day.
Note: If you don’t want to use the pool at full capacity, you may reserve a time during the off hours, and refunds will be given to individuals who do not feel comfortable with full capacity.
The MCA does ask that you try the pools for a week, starting with opening week, and if you are not happy, you will receive a full refund minus a $4 admin fee. Simply send an email to pools@mca80238 or submit a complaint via the MCA website.
Reservations Overview
The MCA cannot restrict the pools, nor does it want to, but it can and does create a reservation system for members, giving them priority access. This generates interest in reservations, which includes active passes, and helps to fund the pools, e.g., staffing, maintenance, etc.
Limited Capacity Reservations
The three smaller Pools will have a reservation system from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and will operate at 50% capacity, Monday – Friday. Starting at 12:00 PM each day all the pools will be open at full capacity.
Holiday Reservations
Holiday reservations will be in place at full capacity. Holidays will be on a reservation system for active pass members only. The reservation system is designed for people who need to go in and out, so they don’t lose their place and face a lengthy line to reenter. The holiday reservation will likely be from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Sunset Swim Times
Sunset swim, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, will take place every weekday, and there will, most likely, be less people as this time period is not open to the public, only to those with passes.
Swim Lessons
The swim lessons that have existed previously are not taking place at this time, more details will be forthcoming. Paula Deorio is the point person for the pools and is happy to answer any questions community members may have.
Pool Staffing
The majority of the pool staff is 18 and under, e.g., 16, 17, and 18 years of age, which is to say they are less likely to have received their vaccinations, and the MCA is looking out for everyone’s wellbeing as it makes its plans.
Vaccinations for Staff
No one can require vaccinations, so the MCA simply encourages staff members to become vaccinated.
Pool Jobs & Seasonal Hiring
The MCA is actively hiring 16 and older for pool positions.
Blow-Up Toys & Floaties
Blow-up floaties and toys are allowed, per the usual signage. If the pools are busy, you may be asked to put them aside.
Pool Furniture
People can bring their own furniture, e.g., low profile chairs are ideal, but cannot bring large umbrellas, which are prone to bursts of wind, making them dangerous.
Swim Teams
Smaller pools, which have limited capacity, don’t have swim teams.
Swim lessons:
Groups of 10 are not to be mixing households. While this takes place at schools, at pools there are no masks, hence the protocol. That said, the MCA will instruct more than one at a time granted the children are from the same household. As early as June 15th, swim lessons will (most likely) return.
Financial Assistance
If there is a financial barrier for a pool pass or orientation, please contact the MCA.
General Event Updates
The Farmer’s Market begins again on Saturday, June 6th. Diane Deeter is the point person on events and events planning.
The normal Beer Festival will not take place, but there will be additions to the Concert on July 17th to keep tradition alive.
Northfield High School graduation, and car parade took place, with 75 cars, last weekend. This was led by the Denver Police, who did a great job.
The community garage sale is taking place this Saturday, and signage may be picked up at The Cube in Conservatory Green.
The MCA Community Clean-Up was a great success, and will take place every month this summer, June, July, and August, and is a great way for youth to get community hours.
May is “Kindness Month,” and you can learn more via the MCA calendar online.
The Cube will (hopefully) reopen in September.
When the concerts return, they will resemble previous years minus the “mosh pit” of dancers and children at the front of the field. Masks will not be required, and social distancing will not be required, e.g., no policing, except to curb the mosh pit.
The North and South Greens, the big parks, will not be open for reservations this year.
Baseball Fields
The baseball fields on Dallas will receive dugouts, eventually. By next summer, the baseball field on Dallas, in the North End, should be complete.
Landscaping
Regarding trees and bushes in the community, e.g., dead plants, etc., please send comments via the MCA website.
It takes 3 – 5 years to make a community, such as Beeler Park and the North End, grow as it was designed, and dead plants are to be expected along the way.
Snow Removal
The messaging is changing so that all residents understand the MCA does not plow the streets, the City of Denver does, and the community follows behind the city.
In a blizzard situation, it will take several days to clear all the alleys. Please reference the MCA website for more information regarding blizzards and snow removal as the year progresses.