When there are swim meets at Baker Park, the East Pool and Tot Pool will remain open until the normal closing time. As home swim meets bring plenty of visiting swimmers and spectators to the pool, visiting teams are encouraged to park on the adjacent sports field if conditions permit, which will maintain more parking for our members. Please keep this in mind as you plan your visits to Baker Park and allow extra time to get to your evening classes at the Y indoor facility. For your scheduling convenience, the Baker Park Swim Team Home Meet Schedule is below: Tuesday, June 23rd Home Dual Meet vs. Nine Oaks Thursday, June 25th Home Dual Meet vs. Laurelwood Saturday, June 27th Baker Park Invitational Baker Park Facilities closed until 1:00 PM Tuesday, July 7th Home Dual Meet vs. North End BAKER PARK OUTDOOR POOLS MEMBER Tuesday, July 14 th Home Dual Meet vs. Bellewood HANDBOOK * If weather causes a meet to be interrupted or postponed, additional dates may be required to complete these meets. To learn more about the Baker Park and Phoenixville YMCA Swim teams, visit www.payswim.org. Summer 2015 Version 4.0
NOTES POOL CLOSINGS If the day s high temperature is not forecast to be greater than 65 degrees, Baker Park pools will not open. We will use weather.com forecast as our guide. If you are in doubt, please call 610-933-5861. Weather Thunder & Lightning All indoor and outdoor pools must be cleared and closed during a thunderstorm. All patrons are to leave the pool area/deck immediately. All swimming activities are to remain suspended until thirty minutes after thunder or lightning was last observed. After 30 minutes without any thunder or lightning activity, all swimming activities can resume. If thunderstorms are in the area at 7 p.m. the pool will be closed for the remainder of the evening. In the event of a swim meet, the meet may be restarted if deemed appropriate by meet officials. Fecal and Vomit Policy It is the Y s policy to clear the pool when any incidence of fecal or vomit contamination occurs, or when an injury or wound produces visible blood contamination in the water. Please do not swim when you or your children have diarrhea. Children in diapers must wear a swimming diaper or rubber pants. Changing of children s diapers is NOT permitted on the pool deck. Changing stations are provided in changing rooms. Do not enter the pool with open wounds. If such contamination occurs: All swimmers will be required to exit the pool and the pool will be closed. Water chemistry will be tested by lifeguards and fecal matter/vomit will be removed. Members will be allowed to re-enter the pools after its complete removal and after the water is treated and test, with acceptable test results permitting re-entry. Baker Park Swim Team Baker Park is home to the Baker Park Barracuda Swim Team. The East Pool is used for late afternoon practices during the week. The Z Pool is used for home swim meets and will be closed at 4:45, just before each home meet s scheduled 5:00 PM warm-up due to the necessary meet set-up. Meets begin at 6:30.
Swim Testing/Wristbands All children, members or guests, age 12 and under are required to be swim tested. Participants of any age may be swim tested at the discretion of the lifeguards. Any child under the age of 12, regardless of swimming ability, must be accompanied by an adult. Shallow Water Swim Test (Orange Band) Swimmer must be able to maneuver from a vertical position to a horizontal position on either their front or back, swim 10 yards on front or back, and then return to a vertical position. Deep Water Swim Test (Green Band) Swimmer must be able to swim a half of a length on their front into deep water, tread for 1 minute, swim the remainder of the length, exit the pool without assistance, and jump into the deep end. Swimmer may not rest or stop during the test. If the participant cannot complete all aspects of the test, the test is failed. Children who cannot pass the shallow water test will be required to wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD), remain in the shallow end of the pool and be supervised in water by an adult within arm s reach. Children who pass the shallow water test will be required to wear an orange wrist band and stay in the shallow end of the pool. All children under the age of 7 must be accompanied in water by an adult within arm s reach. Children who pass the deep water test will be required to wear a green wrist band and are permitted to swim anywhere in the pool. You can help prevent child drownings by having your child wear the right Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and teaching them to use it properly. A PFD is not a substitute for adult supervision; NEVER leave a child unattended in or near the water. Emergency Signals: For everyone s safety, members and their guests should familiarize themselves with the following alert whistle patterns 1 short whistle blasts: look at lifeguard(s) for instruction. 1 long whistle blast: clear the pool immediately. Baker Park Member Handbook Table of Contents Welcome to Summer 2015 Facility Description Hours of Operation Check-in Procedures Guest Policy Code of Conduct Rules & Regulations Supervision Water Slides/Flumes Swim Testing/Wristbands Other Pool Closings Weather Fecal/Vomit Incidence Swim Meets Contact Information
WELCOME Welcome To Baker Park! Thank you for being a member at the Phoenixville YMCA, which includes membership at the outdoor Baker Park facility. We are looking forward to a great summer! Baker Park Outdoor Pool will open on Saturday, May 23rd at 11:00 AM. Please read this Member Handbook thoroughly, as it contains helpful information about Baker Park, its policies and procedures, including the Guest Policy, Rules and Regulations and Swim Test Procedures. To ensure proper entry into Baker Park, you will need to bring your YMCA membership card. If you have any questions before the outdoor pool opens, please feel free to contact one of us, or stop at the Welcome Center in the Daniel J. Detwiler facility, where staff will be happy to help. We look forward to serving you. Lisa McGregor Ross Herman Ryan Kennedy Advanced Aquatics Director Aquatics Director Competitive Aquatics Dir. Aquatics Aquatics Head Swim Coach lmcgregor@philaymca.org rherman@philaymca.org rkennedy@philaymca.org CONTACT INFORMATION For updated information on happenings at the Y, program offerings and pool schedules and events, you can use the Y s website or download the YMCA s mobile application. Downloading scan bar is found on the front of all of our program guides. Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA Website: https://philaymca.org For e-mail, use: first initial last name @philaymca.org Main Building Welcome Center 610-933-5861 Baker Park Welcome Center 610-933-5862 Baker Park Bath House/Lifeguards 610-933-5861 x5762 Lisa McGregor 484-921-5846 Ross Herman 484-921-5843 Coach Ryan Kennedy 484-921-5845 Supervision The Phoenixville YMCA is committed to providing a safe aquatic environment for all participants. This requires the cooperation of the staff and members to assure that all children are properly supervised during each visit to the pool. Lifeguards are responsible for scanning the pool and working to prevent aquatic incidents from occurring. Parents are responsible for supervising their children and following the rules established by the YMCA to maintain a safe environment. The following supervision is required by parents: Children 6 years of age and younger must have an adult (18 years of age or older) in the water at all times, regardless of the child s swimming ability. No exceptions. The supervising adult must be a YMCA Full Privilege member and in appropriate swimming attire. Children 7-11 years of age require an adult (18 years of age or older) on deck. If the child cannot pass the shallow water swim test, regardless of his/her age, the supervising adult must be in the water with the child. Ratio of a child 7 years of age and younger to an adult may not exceed 4 to 1. Phoenixville YMCA members 12 years of age and older are permitted to use the Baker Park facility without adult supervision. Members and guests of any age may be swim tested at the discretion of the lifeguard. These rules are for the safety of our swimmers and must be followed at all times. Water Flume & Water Shooters (Water Slides) In order to ride the water flume and shooters, children must have earned a Green wristband. NO EXCEPTIONS to the wristband rules will be made. Riders should lay flat on their back with legs crossed, and obey all lifeguard instructions. Violators of the slide/flume rules may lose slide/flume privileges.
POLICIES & SAFETY REGULATIONS General Rules All swimmers must wear clean, appropriate swim attire while in the pool. No street clothing will be permitted in the pools. No rafts, inner tubes or other inflatable pool toys are permitted at Baker Park. Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets and other YMCA provided swimming aids/flotation devices are permitted. Tables, chairs and shade umbrellas will be available. Chairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please be courteous to other members and do not reserve chairs for individuals who have not yet arrived at Baker Park. Swim only when a lifeguard is on duty and follow all lifeguards directions. Take a soap shower including hair before entering the pool. Walk slowly at all times. Clear the pool immediately when an emergency signal is given. Follow the outlined policy of supervision of children and swim testing (see further information in this packet). Do not bring glass/breakable containers into the pool area and locker rooms. Do not bring any alcoholic beverages. Persons under the influence of such are not permitted on the property. Do not use the pool if you have any communicable disease, rashes, severe sun burn or open sores, or go swimming when you have diarrhea. Do not hang on lane markers or life lines, unless an emergency exists. Do not rough-house, dunk, push or throw others. Do not use lifejackets or floatation devices unless a parent is in the water within arm s reach. Do not wear regular disposable diapers in the pool; children must have swimmer-safe, swimming diapers, either cloth with rubber pants or diapers like Little Swimmers or Splashers. Swimmer diapers should fit snugly to prevent any leakage. Do not change diapers on the pool deck. Do not dive in the pool. No dives, back dives or flips off the side of the pool are permitted. FACILITY DESCRIPTION Baker Park offers three pools to accommodate infants through adults. A Baker Park pool schedule is posted and available beginning May 24th. The schedule shows the number of lanes available for recreation and lap swimming, in each pool, by time period. Tot Pool Zero grade entry to 2-1/2 U-shaped; shaded at entry area. East Pool Lap & Recreation pool, used by swim team for training, and otherwise available for recreation and lap swimming; 4 Depth at both ends. Z Pool Competition & Recreation Z-shaped pool with 2-1/2 entry at shallow end; 4-1/2 depth at flume entry area; 10 depth at diving end. Restrooms/Changing Rooms Men s and Women s improved restrooms with private changing rooms, showers, and baby-changing stations are located on both sides of the lifeguard/bath house office. Please use the appropriate gender facilities. If necessary, children under 6 years old are permitted to use the opposite-gender changing room with a parent, if a same-gender parent is not at Baker Park. Snack Bar/Vending An updated snack bar is located near the entrance. With some new menu items, including healthy choices for lunch and dinner, we encourage our members to stop in. There are vending machines offering water and other liquid refreshments. Members are welcome to bring their own food to Baker Park. HOURS OF OPERATION Baker Park will be open on Saturday, May 23rd from 11-8 p.m. to welcome all Baker Park members, provide further information and conduct swim tests for children. Hours of operation for the remainder of the season will be as follows: Weekends May 23 through September 6 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Weekdays May 26 through September 4 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Holidays May 25, July 4 & September 7 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, June 27th, Baker Park will open at 1:00PM due to Baker Park Invitational Meet. Friday, July 10th, Baker Park will close at 4:00 PM for our YMCA Staff Picnic. The Z Pool will close early when there is a home swim meet. See Baker Park Swim Team section for details.
CHECK-IN PROCEDURES Members are expected to bring their member ID cards with them at each visit to the Y. This allows verification of membership status and quick processing of our members through the entrance. When a member does not have a card, staff needs additional time to manually enter information, and this sometimes creates delays for our members and their guests. If you do not have a current YMCA membership card, please stop by the Welcome Center to pick up a new one before you plan to use the facilities. Members are expected to check in using their ID card at each location, each time they enter. GUEST POLICY Phoenixville YMCA Full Privilege members are entitled to invite guests to Baker Park during the summer. The following guidelines will be followed: Guests are only permitted when accompanied by a Phoenixville YMCA Full Privilege member. Members must remain at Baker Park with their guests for the duration of their visit. In order to be fair to our dues-paying full privilege members, guest fees will apply. Each guest 3 years and older will be charged $10.00 per visit. Phoenixville YMCA members must be 18 years or older to bring a guest. Children under 12 years of age must be supervised by an adult 18 years of age or older at all times within the Baker Park facility. The total ratio of children, 7 years of age and younger, to the adult may not exceed 4:1. Phoenixville YMCA members may bring a maximum of four (4) individuals per membership unit (family, adult, senior) per day. All members names must appear in the unit record. Guests may visit the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA Association, whether indoor or outdoor facilities, up to three (3) days per calendar year. All visits are recorded and once the maximum number of visits has been made, access will be restricted, and guests will be expected to join the Y to use the Y. All guests are required to wear a guest wristband. All guests 12 years of age and under are required to take a swim test. Guests can be turned away at any time due to capacity limitations. Guest identification information will be processed through the Y s Child Sex Abuse database. Positive ID flags will result in a guest being turned away. Guest Check-in Procedure: Guests must be registered and guest fees paid at the Baker Park Welcome Center prior to entering the facilities. A guest registration and waiver form must be completed at that time. Each adult guest, 18 and older must present valid photo ID upon entry. Phoenixville YMCA member and guests must both be present at the time of check-in. For those guests who are using both indoor and outdoor facilities, or who leave and return to the facilities on the same day, additional check-in may be required. CODE OF CONDUCT The Phoenixville YMCA is committed to promoting and providing a safe and healthy environment for all pool staff, members and their guests. In order to assure safety and comfort for everyone, all Phoenixville YMCA staff, members and their guests are expected to act appropriately at all times. While at the outdoor pool, individuals are expected to act maturely, behave responsibly and respect the rights and dignity of others through Healthy Living, Social Responsibility and Youth Development. The Phoenixville YMCA Code of Conduct is not limited to the posted pool rules. The Code of Conduct prohibits inappropriate behavior, including, but not limited to: Hazing, bullying, harassment or intimidation by words, gestures, body language or any other type of menacing behavior Verbally abusive behavior, including angry or vulgar language, swearing, shouting or name-calling Physical contact with another person in an angry, aggressive, sexual or threatening way Theft or behavior that results in the loss or destruction of property. Inappropriate use of cameras, including cell phone cameras, while on pool property. Note: Camera use is strictly prohibited in the changing rooms. Smoking the Phoenixville YMCA is a smoke-free facility Members and guests are encouraged to take responsibility for their personal comfort and safety. Pool members should not hesitate to notify a staff member should a problem arise. The YMCA s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.