Kids can celebrate July 4 on Lexington playgrounds. Some basketball courts open Saturday
Lexington will reopen city playgrounds and some basketball courts on July 4.
The city had to close its playgrounds and most playing fields in late March after too many people congregated in city parks and weren’t following social distancing guidelines put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The city’s playgrounds were one of the last park amenities to reopen.
Still, city park officials cautioned parents to remain vigilant about the spread of coronavirus when playgrounds reopen Saturday.
“Children will need to wear masks and be encouraged to keep their distance from other children,” said Monica Conrad, director of parks and recreation. “Parents should keep their children out of the playground if it is crowded.”
Signs at each playground will warn visitors about the risks.
Also opening on Saturday are individual basketball courts in the city’s more than 100 parks. Courts with multiple hoops at Douglass, Shillito and Constitution parks will remain closed to stop large groups from gathering.
Later in July, the city will open its four spraygrounds at Jacobson, Masterson Station, Douglass and Castlewood. The spraygrounds are interactive water features that do not have any standing water. The city ultimately decided not to reopen city pools this summer.
Parents will have to reserve time at the spraygrounds to keep the spraygrounds from becoming too crowded, city officials said. More information about how to reserve time at the spraygrounds will be released closer to the time the spraygrounds reopen, city officials said Tuesday.
