Guidelines

Members of the Beach & Recreation Committee carefully researched ways to keep everyone safe during the summer of 2020, and are grateful to members and friends for following their guidelines throughout the season, including practicing social distancing and cleaning shared equipment and toys.

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For the 2021 season:

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Lifeguards are on duty Saturdays from 12 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m.  Please read and follow the guidelines below.

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Test Taking: 

• Anyone under the age of 16 must take a swimming test under the lifeguard’s supervision to go past the ropes. 

• Two-lap test: 

  • Allows swimmers to go past the ropes to the first set of buoys.

  • Once the test is passed, the child may swim laps or jump off either dock alone. 

  • Requirements to pass: 

    • Swim two consecutive laps without touching the ground. 

    • Tread for 30 uninterrupted seconds. 

• Five-lap test: 

  • Allows swimmers to go anywhere within the swimming area. 

  • Once the test is passed, the child may swim laps or jump off either dock alone or swim past the first set of buoys with a buddy. 

  • Requirements to pass: 

    • Swim five consecutive laps without touching the ground. 

    • Tread for 60 uninterrupted seconds. 

• Swimmers must complete the test every season until they are 16. 

• If the swimmer touches the ground, the test must be retaken. 

• No swimmies, noodles, tubes or other flotations devices/aids may be used while taking the test. 

• Lifeguard must be present for the test to count for the season. 

 

Swimming Area: 

• The swimming area includes: 

  • The roped section between the two docks, from either dock to the first buoy, from the first buoy to the second buoy, from the second buoy to the raft.

  • There should be no swimming behind the raft or outside of the swimming area. 

  • No fishing in the swimming area or from the docks.

  • There should be no boats, paddle boards, or large rafts (at the discretion of the lifeguard) in the swimming area. 

• Raft: 

  • No excessive jumping, rocking or diving from the raft.

  • No rough housing (including but not limited to pushing, shoving or flipping).

  • Everyone under 18 must have a buddy to swim to raft; over 18 it is encouraged, but not required. 

• Docks: 

  • No diving from docks.

  • Jump straight off the end of the dock. The sides are too shallow to jump. 

 

Outside of Swimming Area: 

• Swimmers may not swim outside of the swimming area. 

• As per state law, everyone 12 and under is required to wear a lifejacket when in a boat over 20 feet, and in any canoe or kayak. In addition, the lifeguard can use their discretion to ask others to wear a lifejacket if they feel it is required for safety.

• Boaters should have enough lifejackets in the watercraft to provide one per person.

 

Beach, Boat & Picnic Area:

• Keep the sand on the beach (No throwing, especially into the water).

• Fill in any holes that have been dug prior to leaving the beach.

• No smoking, alcohol or glass containers. 

• No pets on the beach during lifeguard hours. 

 

Chair Shed/Toys: 

• We request that you wipe or spray down any community chairs, toys, boats, or paddles with disinfecting sprays and wipes in the shed before and after use as a courtesy.

• Return beach chairs, toys, noodles, tubes, umbrellas and any other items to their designated areas:

  • Place chairs in the slots in the shed.

  • Return rafts and tubes to the poles or behind the retaining wall or shed.

  • Return toys into the provided bins or behind the shed.

 

Equipment: 

• Refrain from using lifesaving equipment unless necessary. (Never play with it.)

• Location of equipment: 

  • AED is in the women’s bathroom at the Center.

  • Additional first aid kit is available in the shed.

  • Backboard and additional rescue equipment is in the shed (including but not limited to: torpedo buoys, rescue hooks and throw bag).

• Report if rescue tube (or other equipment) becomes broken. (Email pflainfo@yahoo.com)

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