Sturbridge Lakes Association
Covid-19 Special Beach Use Instructions
This year, because of the COVID-19 situation, going to the beach will be a different experience. Rules have been set up in an effort to mitigate exposure to covid-19. However, we cannot eliminate that risk.
Please read all the rules, warnings and mandatory liability waiver below, and decide whether beach use is appropriate for you under all these circumstances.
The procedures below were submitted as part of an Aquatic Plan which was approved by the Board of Health. However, this is a trial and will require everyone’s cooperation. If it is successful, hopefully we can open up more places on the beach to accommodate more people.
Foxview Beach opens Saturday, June 6th , BY RESERVATION ONLY Tentatively, Chatham Beach will open June 13th.
2020 Beach Covid 19 Rules and Procedures:
1. IF you wish to use the beach, you must agree to the Notice of Covid-19 Dangers and Release and Hold Harmless Agreement (Below). If you don’t agree, you cannot make a reservation or use the beach.
2. Only residents of Sturbridge Lakes in Good Standing and current on all Association dues and all other fees, may make a beach reservation.
3. Reservations are limited to Sturbridge Lakes residents and their immediate family guests. Immediate family guest can be a parent, child, grand parent or sibling of a resident. A resident must be present at all times in each reservation group.
4. No unattended minors. Every group must include an adult 18 years of age or older.
5. Masks must be worn by all persons when they enter or leave the beach, during check in, while waiting for check in, and when they move around the beach – including travel to and from the bathrooms.
6. Masks are recommended to be worn at all times, except when swimming.
7. At least 6 feet social distancing separation must be maintained at all times – between all staff and patrons, on the beach and in the water.
8. Disinfecting wipes, soap, or lotion are available outside and inside bathrooms. Sanitize your hands before entering and before leaving a bathroom.
9. At least 6 feet social distancing separation will be required on the beach except by family or personal group in a single reservation and sitting together on the beach in a group of no more than 6 individuals . Family or personal groups must maintain 6 feet social distancing from all other persons.
10. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, including but not limited to fever, coughing or shortness of breath, do not come to the beach.
11. No one is permitted on the beach if they or anyone they have had contact with in the past 14 days has covid-19, or is awaiting a covid-19 test result.
12. Do not come to the beach if you or anyone you have contact with is physically vulnerable to Covid-19 due to age, infirmity, physical illness or other condition.
13. Follow proper sneezing and coughing etiquette. Use your arm to cover a cough or sneeze.
14. Inform the Association immediately if, in the future, you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or are tested for Covid-19.
15. The following are closed, please do not use:
Association Boats and Flotation Equipment; The Docks;Volleyball Courts; Association Picnic Tables, Benches, Chairs or Other Public Seating; Playground Equipment and Swings;
RESERVATION and CHECK IN SYSTEM
16. The beaches will have an on-line reservation system which is enabled on Friday, June 5th.
17. The Beach Reservation system is at “http://www.sturbridgelakes.com/Forms/2020Beach.htm”
18. You can reserve one of two timeslots on the beach 11:00-2:30 or 3:15-6:45
19. Reservations are for family/ personal groups of no more than 6 persons each.
20. Spaces on the beach will be separated and limited. There will be 12 spaces on Foxview and 9 spaces on Chatham.
21. There will be one marked entrance and one marked exit.
22. When you check in, you must show a photo ID with your address and your beach tag. The guard will check this against the reservation.
23. Any children must be accompanied by an adult (18 and over).
24. Each spot on the beach is 12 feet x 12 feet. In between the spots there are 12 foot wide lanes that provide sufficient space to walk to the water while maintaining social distance.
25. You will be required to read and agree to a COVID-19 indemnity waiver (copy below)
26. Each individual or group entering will be checked in by staff and records will be kept of admittees for contact tracing purposes.
27. Bring your own beach chairs, umbrella’s, life jackets etc. There is no use of common SLA equipment including boats, paddleboards, lifejackets, snorkels, etc.
28. Beach must be clear at 10:00 AM before the lifeguards arrive and reservation check ins begin.
29. You must wear a mask during the check in process
30. The check in line will be on the sidewalk along Brookview toward Fox Hollow. Social distancing lines have been marked on the sidewalk. A guard will invite in one group at a time to check in. A group maximum size is 6.
31. When you check in, place your photo ID on the check in table which is in the front of the Beach House.
32. Once you check in, proceed to a marked spot on the beach. Maintain social distancing at all times on the beach and in the water.
See the Covid Dangers Warning And Release Below. This Is Mandatory for Beach Use:
NOTICE OF
THE DANGERS OF COVID -19 AND
AGREEMENT TO RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS
READ EVERY WORD CAREFULLY THIS IS A LEGAL AGREEMENT AND NOTIFIES YOU OF SERIOUS RISKS WHICH YOU ACKNOWLEDGE!
By reserving use of the beach and accepting this Release and Hold Harmless Agreement, you agree to and acknowledge all of the following statements. If you do not agree to any of this, stop and do not reserve or go to the beach:
1. I am a Sturbridge Lakes Association (“Association”) member in good standing.
2. I desire to visit Foxview or Chatham Beach (“the beach”) for the purpose of recreation and/ or swimming, in accordance with all rules and instructions by the Association and beach staff, including but not limited to lifeguards and beach monitors.
3. I acknowledge the existence of the COVID-19 virus, the dangers of the virus and the potential exposure to the virus that could occur as a result of my coming to the beach and using either the grounds or water for recreation.
THE DANGERS OF THE VIRUS INCLUDE:
SERIOUS SICKNESS OR DEATH TO ME AND TO OTHERS I COME IN CONTACT WITH
4. I acknowledge that others in addition to me and my family will be using the beach or swimming, and that while rules for social distancing will be published at the beach, the risk of transmission of the virus still exists.
5. I represent that, as for myself and anyone accompanying me to the beach, as well as each member of our respective households and immediate families, we have not tested positive or shown signs of COVID-19 including fever, cough or shortness of breath, have not been in contact with any person in the past 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is waiting for results of a test for COVID-19, and have not within the last 14 days arrived from, or been in contact with someone, who has travelled abroad. I agree to immediately notify the ASSOCIATION in writing if there is any change in this representation at any time up to thirty (30) days after I or those accompanying me are on the beach.
NOTE: Signs of Covid-19 virus may include fever, cough, or shortness of breath, but those are not the only signs.
6. I and anyone else I bring to the beach, agree that each of us will HOLD HARMLESS, RELEASE AND INDEMNIFY the Sturbridge Lakes Association and each and every one of its employees, trustees, agents and representatives, including but not limited to all lifeguard staff and their employers, for any exposure to Covid-19, and from any lawsuit, or other claim by anyone as a result of the COVID-19 virus causing injury, illness or other damages arising from me or those accompanying me visiting the beach.
7. By accepting this Agreement and by reserving use of the beach, I agree to and acknowledge all of the statements above.
IF any of the statements above are not true or if I disagree with any of it, I agree to stay off the beach.
