People around Mass. looking to revamp their backyards with beaches, vacations impacted by COVID-19

EASTON, Mass. — Many backyards across the state are going through a transition.

"This is normally a really busy time of year for us, getting pools finished up for Memorial Day and then the next surge for the Fourth of July," said David Hobaica, the co-owner of Easton Pool and Spa.

Whether your kids aren't going to camp or you don't want to hop on a plane, people are looking to put the fun in summer.

"We've had unprecedented run on calls and leads for pools like I've never seen before," Hobaica explained.

People looking to stay at home this summer are wanting to turn their backyards into their own personal playgrounds.

Bill Davies and his family live on Martha's Vineyard year-round. They've been planning since last fall for a pool and are happy they decided to make the investment.

"You know, now that we know the beaches are going to be a little bit different this summer, we're looking forward [to] where we can cook out more instead of going out to restaurants,” Davies said. “Getting to go and be back here and eating and enjoying our own oasis."

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If you're looking for a pool, demand is high, and you may not get one in time. It can take about eight weeks from start to finish, depending on size and landscape.

​"The pools that we're working on now are pools [that] were mostly booked in the fall or late fall, early winter [of 2019]," Hobaica said.

At Creative Playthings in Canton, stores have been closed but the phone lines are open for business.

"We're always busy this time of year, but it's definitely busier than past years. Again, it's just because of everyone being home and they need stuff for the kids," said Todd Fraser with Creative Playthings.

Plenty of playsets to go around but trampolines are in short supply.

"Trampolines have been huge. We've had a lot of trouble keeping them in stock," Fraser said. "It's all what you're looking for. We have something for everyone.”

A pool or playset is an investment. In-ground pools can start in the five figures; playsets can run close to $1,000 dollars.

"They're not only investing for right now. They're investing for the future. The swing sets, the trampolines that we build are high-end and they're built to last," said Fraser.

"We can pretty much fit a pool in a lot of really tight spaces. There is a bit of [a] trend of people with smaller yards, or they just don't want the upkeep that a large pool might take," said Hobaica.

Whatever you’re considering, do your research to make sure it’s a reputable company and/or product.​

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