ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU) — After closing for the 2020 season due to COVID-19, the Rothschild-Schofield Aquatic Center will open for its regular season this June.
The Rothschild/Schofield Aquatic Center Commission met Monday night and voted to open the facility on June 5th. Rothschild Administrator Gary Olsen says the news has been met with excitement from most families.
“People are kinda tired of being stuck at home, they want to get out and do things. I think that pools could be a pretty popular place this summer,” said Olsen.
It remains to be seen if any sort of masking requirements or capacity limits will be in place for all or part of the season. Olsen says those will be determined by how the virus is spreading and vaccination levels this summer.
Officials voted to close the facility in the face of last year’s pandemic, one of several in the region that sat idle. Olsen says staff did use that time to make some improvements to the facility such as replacing playground equipment and preparing for the installation of a new water slide.
The current plan is for the facility to open on June 5th, which Olsen says would give them a full season. In the hours following Monday’s decision, he adds that the Village had already received requests for pool passes and inquiries from those interested in working at the facility.
“We have lifeguard jobs for the Aquatic Center but we also have a concessions stand and ticket-takers. [They’re] great positions for the summer.” He adds that anyone interested in a job should contact Village Hall for more information.
Both the Rothschild Village Board and Schofield City Council do need to sign off on the opening plan. Olsen says his board will take it up at their next meeting. Schofield’s council is not set to meet again until March.
RELATED: Weston Village Board Votes to Open Aquatic Center This Summer
Also on Monday officials in Weston committed to opening their aquatic center for 2021 but did not specify an opening date. The Weston facility was one of two that did open in Central Wisconsin last year, with the other being Wisconsin Rapids’ brand-new outdoor pool and recreation center.
