I am sending this petition to the residents of Villa Dorado in order to gain your support for the opening of the swimming pool for the summer of 2020. I spoke with a member of the Grier Group Management team and she told me that it was not their intent to open the pool for the duration of the summer.

There are a number of reasons why it is safe and necessary to open the pool this summer (even if at a slightly later date than Memorial Day):

1) A swimming pool is not a risk for transmitting COVID-19.  According to the CDC website:  "There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water."

2) The pool provides needed exercise and sunshine for many people. Exercise and Vitamin D are both needed to maintain a person's immune system.  According to the CDC website: "Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can stimulate production of vitamin D in the skin. having little or no sun exposure may put a person at risk for low levels of vitamin D." 

3) The residents of Villa Dorado have paid for this benefit throughout the year and would like to be able to utilize this benefit. It is understood that the monies contributed through the condo association fee are used for a variety of things, one of those things is the use of the pool area in the summertime.  - If opening the pool is not an option after considering all the possibilities, a partial refund to residents might be nice as this large, paid-for benefit is not able to be enjoyed.

4) The pool provides jobs for the pool management company and their lifeguards. Many of these are students who may not have another source of income this summer. 

Suggestions for opening the pool while still maintaining distancing recommendations might include: 
*limiting the number of people at the pool to 30 (or other appropriate number) at one time,
*limiting the amount of time a person spends at the pool so that it does not get crowded and all can still participate, 
*limiting the users of the pool area to residents only - who pay for this benefit 
and/or
*closing the bathroom/shower room areas, as all patrons would be close enough to their homes. 

We, the undersigned, believe that it is safe and necessary for the pool to open this summer and we encourage the Grier Group Management team and the Villa Dorado Homeowners Board to do their job and provide this service/benefit to the residents of this community who are paying for it.  We understand that there may be limitations on the number of people using the pool at a time, or potential time limits for such use. We also understand that there may be limitations on whether or not guests will be allowed to use the pool with the residents.