BUFFALO (WBEN) - In what seems to be a rather cruel set of circumstances, Western New Yorkers are experiencing what could turn out to be a record setting heat wave during a pandemic.
Fortunately, some community pools, such as the Lincoln Pool in Tonawanda, have opened up to residents just in time to help combat the heat - but of course, they can't pack in nearly as many people as they would have in years past.
"Based on guidelines from New York State, the size of the pool, the square footage, where normally we could have, in normal times, 300 kids or people in the pool at a time, we're limited to 75," said Town of Tonawanda Superintendent for Parks & Recreation Mark Campanella.
Essentially, residents can go online to reserve an hour and a half time slot to have access to either pool, and there are 30 minutes set aside between time slots so that staff can properly sanitize and disinfect the area before the next set of residents can come in.
Despite the limitations, Frysz said the town is simply happy to be able to provide any type of service at this point.
"We're delighted to have the opportunity to provide the service of having a pool open, albeit on a limited basis, for our families and especially the children who very much appreciate the opportunity, especially after having been sidelined for all those months," he said.
"With the exception of the first day when there were people lined up here early in the morning, I think people realized there's no panic, there's no reason to get here (then)," he said. "People come and go inside the pool, so if there are 75 people in, you wait in line, three come out, three go in."