Chelle Putzer, Piedmont’s recreation director, told the City Council on Monday that participation in various Recreation Department has been solid over most of the past year the COVID-19 restrictions have been in place.
After-school programs now have about 400 participants per month, she said; sports programs — synched with the schools’ hybrid schedules — have about 140.
“We’re going to stay outdoors” for most of the sessions, Putzer said — “The teachers love it, and it’s going well.”
Putzer praised her staff for adjusting so well, so quickly when the pandemic hit. Mayor Teddy Gray King concurred, saying, “You’ve been working so hard, and you’ve been trying to thread an almost impossible needle for about a year now.”
Swimming pool discussion coming
Councilwoman Betsy Smegal Andersen asked her fellow council members Monday night to put an item on a future meeting agenda to discuss whether it’s practical, or possible, to reopen the old Piedmont pool temporarily — for instance, until construction starts on the voter-approved new pool to be built on the site of the old one.
The $19.5 million new pool was approved by Piedmont voters in November 2020.
Several people asked the council at its Feb. 15 meeting to consider a short-term reopening of the old pool, mostly for the benefit of competitive school-age swimmers and water polo players.
The old pool, which has been shut down during the pandemic, has significant maintenance issues.
Because the matter wasn’t on Monday night’s agenda, it was not discussed.
Contact Sam Richards at sam.richards4344@gmail.com