After being closed for all of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phyllis Dewar outdoor pool reopened to the public on Monday morning. 

However, with public health orders still in effect, there will be restrictions in place for everyone’s safety. 

Those restrictions will be very similar to the restrictions that are already in place for the indoor pool at the Kinsmen Sportsplex. 

The pool will have a limited capacity and the schedules will be spaced out to allow from lanes swims, water workouts and family swims. 

Despite that, recreation services manager Scott Osmachenko says they are expecting a busy summer. 

“Swimming was an extremely popular activity (during the pandemic). Looking at the forecast with those hot days, getting outside swimming again will be popular, so we do have a limit of 80 people per family swim. So, we are expected to be busy for sure,” he said. 

He added that the excitement is growing to have outdoor swimming back in the city. 

“With the pandemic, it is finally our last facility that we will be reopening since the closure. So yeah, we're very excited to open up and we've heard that not just ourselves, but the public is very excited to be swimming outdoors again.” 

Like the indoor pool, patrons are encouraged to register online in order to pool their swim times. If you’ve already registered through the City of Moose Jaw’s website or the city’s app, you can use the same account to book at the outdoor pool. 

If you are having issues booking a time online or don’t have access to the internet or the app, you can call the Yara Centre or the Kinsmen Sportsplex and they will be able to assist you. 

From June 14 to July 4, the Kinsmen Sportsplex will be closed for its annual maintenance, so programming will be transferred over to the outdoor pool.  

Lap swims will be taking place from 6 to 9 a.m., adults swim from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., and family swims from 1:15 to 4:15 p.m. and 7 to 8:15 p.m. 

In July and August, it’s expected that the schedules will shift a bit, with adult swims still starting at 11:30 a.m. and family swims starting at 1:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. 

For more information, or to register, visit the City of Moose Jaw’s website here.