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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala’s Aquatic Fun Centers gearing up to reopen for summer

The City of Ocala’s Aquatic Fun Centers are scheduled to reopen to the public for the summer beginning Monday, June 8.

The Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center, at 2390 SW 36th Ave., and the Hampton Aquatic Fun Center, at 255 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., will be open Mondays through Saturdays with two sessions, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m. Both facilities will be closed on Sundays to allow for weekly deep sanitizing.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, additional restrictions and guidelines will be in effect for operations at both facilities:

  • Temperature and health screenings at entry;
  • Plexiglass shields installed at customer service counters, as well as six-foot separation markers for entry;
  • Reduced bathing loads to 50 percent normal capacity that will be monitored and adjusted to ensure proper social distancing;
  • No swim lessons;
  • Waterslides will be closed;
  • Facility or table rentals will not be permitted;
  • Groups, camps and field trips will be prohibited;
  • Reduced number of chairs available with distancing guidelines in place. No family groups larger than 10 people;
  • Concessions will be prepackaged foods only;
  • Staff will be assigned to frequently clean with a daily deep sanitizing from 12:30 to 2 p.m.; and
  • Staff will be trained on protocols provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for aquatics operations.

Admission for each swim session is $2 for ages 17 and under and $3 for those ages 18 and up. Admission is free for ages one and under.

Facility operations are subject to change and staff will continue to monitor conditions based on recommended guidelines. A detailed list of restrictions and guidelines for both aquatic centers may be found at www.ocalafl.org/recpark. Splash pads will remain closed until further notice.

For more information, please call the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department at (352) 368-5517.