Batavia's Quarry Beach to remain closed for entire 2020 season

Batavia's Hall Quarry Beach will remain closed for the entire 2020 season amid uncertainty over the coronavirus outbreak, park district officials announced Thursday.

The unique beach-like facility requires at least four weeks of preparation before patrons can enter, including testing the water, adding sand, hiring and training lifeguards. The lead time needed to take steps, combined with the probable restrictions on summer group activities, led to the park district's "disappointing conclusion that we cannot safely open the Quarry to the community this summer," Executive Director Allison Niemela said in a news release.

"It is the right decision for the health and safety of the general public as we cope with this unprecedented pandemic," she said.

Recent guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that pools could begin operating as long as they comply with social distancing, size limitations and cleaning regulations. But park district officials said they do not believe adhering to those restrictions would be feasible for a public beach setting.

"Doing so would turn our lifeguards and pool employees into 'social distancing police' where they are forced to watch not only the water for life threatening situations but must also turn their eyes from the water to patrons on the beach deck," Niemela said.

Anyone who purchased a Quarry Beach season pass will be automatically refunded in the form of a check, which will be mailed in the next 10 days. More information is available on the park district's website at bataviaparks.org.