MESA, Ariz. — Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa will reopen to the public on Friday after closing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The water park had plans to open last week but reconsidered. Since then, Gov. Doug Ducey announced that he’ll let his stay-at-home order expire after Arizona allegedly met the CDC’s Phase One guidelines for reopening.
Part of Ducey’s new executive order allows public pools to reopen but with social distancing measures.
The park posted online they'd be reopening with strict social distancing and safety guidelines, including encouraging all guests to wear masks, wiping down attractions regularly and keeping their general swim areas closed.
The park will keep some areas closed, but Golfland’s marketing director Tony Jones says most of the attractions will be open.
Jones also said that customers can request a refund within the first hour if they don’t feel comfortable at the park.
The park's website says that COVID-19 can't survive in properly chlorinated water, and Dr. Frank Lovecchio, an emergency medicine doctor with Valleywise Health, says that's true.
"If you're at a swimming pool and there's chlorine in the pool, the chance of you spreading it approaches zero."
But Dr. Lovecchio notes that cleaning comes with a caveat.
"Many products will clean it and kill it but you have to wait a certain amount of time. If you clean it with bleach, etc. you just can't touch it right away. You have to give it like 15 or 20 minutes or so."
He adds the best practice for re-opening an amusement park like this would be to ensure social distancing measures are being followed.
