Eeger kids try to keep their distance while waiting for the pool to open on June 8, the first day of operation for the summer. The pool is retricted to 59 patrons at a time and to North Bend residents and families of NBC K-12 students.

North Bend reopens city facilities

by Nathan Arneal
Published 6/10/20

The city of North Bend is open once again. With restrictions, sure, but a lot of doors that were locked by COVID-19 are reopening.

At its June 2 meeting, the city council decided to reopen the city park, City Hall, pool and library after a relaxed Directed Health Measure was put into effect for June by the state of Nebraska. At a previous meeting, the council had voted to allow the Legion baseball program to use Foltz Field starting in June.

The city park had been closed since April 2. City Hall had been conducting business via e-mail and drop slot behind a locked door, but it will now open the door again. The city auditorium has also been opened for walkers in the morning.

Librarian Amy Reznicek shared her plan for reopening. The DHM limits the library to 25% of its capacity of 297, or 74 people, though the local librarians plan to set their own limit closer to 25 people. The library has removed half its chairs to encourage distancing. Patrons will also be asked to check out an item and leave the building.

Burke Schmidt and Atley Anderson slide into the city pool on opneing day.

“We’ll tell them you just can’t hang out here,” Reznicek said. “We’re not going encourage loitering, coming in to sit and read a book or play a game with your friend.”

The toys and games have been removed from the children’s room, and children will not be allowed in the library without an adult.

Reznicek said the library has “take and make” bags for kids to pick up as part of the summer reading program with supplies and instructions for making a project. Otherwise, the summer reading program is being done online, where as of last week 34 kids were enrolled. A normal summer reading program draws about 120 participants. Even with the library opening, Reznicek said, the reading program will continue online.

The swimming pool has been aiming for a June 8 opening since the June DHM was announced in late May.
The pool will also be limited to 25% of its capacity, which comes out to 59 patrons, which includes swimmers and adults sitting beside the pool watching. Pool use will be limited to North Bend residents and students and families K-12 NBC students.

When swimmers go to the pool for the first time this year, they will have to register to confirm they are from North Bend or North Bend schools, so it would be best if a parent went with them the first time.
On a 92-degree opening day Monday, the pool reached its 59-person capacity in about 90 minutes.

When capacity is reached, a time limit will be placed on swimmers and after two hours the first swimmers in will be asked to leave to allow the people waiting outside a chance to swim.

Warning signs will be posted at all city facilities reminding users that they use the facility at their own risk of COVID-19.

<<Back to the front page