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Tag: Rusch Pool

  • Where can you go to beat the heat in Citrus Heights?

    A photo taken in 1999 at the Rusch Park Pool, which earned a spot on the city’s Top 20 Photos in 2017. // Image source, city website

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    With extreme, record-breaking heat and no school for students on Labor Day, families in Citrus Heights had limited options for local places to go and cool down over the weekend.

    Labor Day weekend saw record-breaking temperatures, with Monday, Sept. 5, topping out at 114 in the Sacramento area. While Rush Pool is a local option to cool down in during the summer, the pool wasn’t an option over the weekend since the last day for public swim was Aug. 14.

    Marty Buell, recreation and community services superintendent with Sunrise Recreation and Parks District, told The Sentinel in an email that closing in mid-August is typical for the Rusch Pool.

    “There were many years when we did try to stay open longer at Rusch Pool in August, “Buell said. “We would have to close down early each day as we didn’t have enough patrons to keep it realistically open.”

    Buell also noted that many of the lifeguard staff are high school and college students who all return to school in August.

    Antelope Aquatics Complex, which is part of the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District, remained open during Labor Day weekend, but Buell said even with the hot weather over Labor Day weekend the complex was at half-capacity every day.

    Splash pads or spray parks are another popular place for families to cool down when temperatures rise into the triple digits. While there are plenty of splash pads elsewhere in the county, none are currently available within Citrus Heights city limits.

    Asked about any plans to bring splash pads to Citrus Heights, Buell said he believes such pads are “an excellent park amenity,” but noted factors like cost need to be taken into consideration when considering constructing splash pads in local parks.

    Other local options that don’t involve water are available to residents who want to beat the heat during extreme weather, including Sunrise Rollerland, the Sunrise Mall, Fireside Lanes, and Sylvan Oaks Library.

    Californians are being asked to conserve energy in the afternoons due to the extreme heat. During extreme heat events, the CDC recommends the following:

    • Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
    • Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
    • Limit use of the stove and oven—it will make you and your house hotter.
    • Limit your outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest
    • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

    Want to share your thoughts on splash pads or local cool down spots? Submit a letter to the editor for publication.

  • Rusch Pool reopens for public swim, with new COVID-19 rules in place

    A lifeguard on duty watching over an uncrowded Rusch Pool in Citrus heights. To avoid spreading COVID-19, staff limited swimmers to about 60 for the pool which normally has a capacity of 300. // Mike Hazlip

    By Mike Hazlip–
    The summertime ritual of splashing and diving is something that hasn’t been heard at Rusch Pool since the end of last summer.

    The public pool, operated by Sunrise Recreation and Park District, opened public swim sessions Wednesday, the first public swim since the COVID-19 shutdown. Becky Herz, senior recreational manager for the district, told The Sentinel in an interview Wednesday that precautions have been taken to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.

    Herz said pool staff are limiting occupants to about 60 people for a pool with a capacity of 300. The risk of transmitting the virus remains low in the chlorinated water, she said.

    The district has also modified swim camps and teams this season. Herz said only one swimmer is allowed for each lane, limiting participants to 14 at a time. She said during a normal season, the facility would see 200 swimmers at a time.

    Liliya Tkach and her daughter Annette were excited to have public swim back in session. Tkach hopes the pool stays open for the remainder of the season.

    Swimmers wanting to enter the facility must wear a face mask, and have their temperature checked at the entrance. Face masks are not allowed in the pool while swimming, however.

    Staff at Rusch Pool checks a swimmer’s temperature at the entrance on the first day of public swim after a delayed start to the season because of COVID-19. // Mike Hazlip

    The delayed start to this year’s season meant an accelerated training program for the lifeguards as well.

    Dave Mitchell, district administrator for Sunrise Recreation and Park District, told The Sentinel in an interview Wednesday that the usual training program of two days per week was condensed to six days per week to get new staff certified. The district also has several returning lifeguards.

    Mitchell said there has not been any change to pool water treatment from last season. Public pools are closely regulated by the county health department, and chlorine must be maintained in levels sufficient to kill most types of bacteria and viruses.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released recommendations in May for the safe operation of public pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations include face coverings when not in water and social distancing of swimmers both in and out of the water.