All basketball courts, baseball fields and playgrounds run by the city of Greenville will remain closed until at least June 1.
The Greenville Parks and Recreation Department released its guidelines for Phase 1 of reopening on Thursday with many of the measures, taken by the department since the coronavirus pandemic, still remaining in place.
Greenville Parks and Recreation Director Corey Holmes said these Phase 1 decisions were made in conjunction with the mayor’s office. They were also made with extended input from officials at the National Recreation and Park Association and the Mississippi Recreation and Park Association.
“This virus is continuing to spread, and cases are going up every day. We are trying to keep large groups from gathering,” he said. “If we allowed a softball game to be played, we know that 400 people and all of their families would show up.
“If we said only 20 kids can be at a practice, we know that a lot more people than 20 are going to show up at our fields.”
Holmes added that his department is keeping the playgrounds closed because his office does not have the resources to disinfect all the playground equipment every 30 minutes as the health guidelines require.
Holmes said there is still time for a baseball season, but it will depend on what the science says.
“If by June 1, we feel it is safe, then it only takes five weeks to have a baseball season,” he said.
Here are the department’s Phase 1 guidelines.
• All Basketball Courts & Playgrounds will continue to be closed
• All Baseball fields will be closed until June 1
(ABSOLUTELY NO PRACTICE ON FIELDS)
•ALL Recreation Centers will continue to remain closed (no rentals, no freeplay, no dance classes)
• ALL rentals of facilities for private parties and gatherings will continue to be prohibited
• All Park RESTROOMS are closed
• Walking trails and Harty Park track are open
• The pavilions will be open but monitored for social distancing (No more than 20 people gathering)
• Bobby Henry Memorial Pool will be closed until further notice
• All tennis courts Wards/Bologna Tennis Courts must be reserved at Buster Brown before 12:00 pm and will be subject to monitoring for social distancing (Court hours are from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm)
• Golf course is open (two persons per cart will be allowed if they are from the same household)
• Pro Shop and Club House are limited to 5 people at a time
