All play areas within City of Bellingham parks will reopen for use by the public late this week, Mayor S eth Fleetwood announced today. Playgrounds at all City parks have been clos ed and taped off since late March, when many City services and facilities w ere shuttered to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We believe chi ldren and parents in our community will be very happy with this news,” Flee twood said. “We have heard from many families that it was a difficult summe r without being able to use the playgrounds at our parks. We are pleased to welcome people back to our 38 play areas this fall.”
Bellingham Park s & Recreation Director Nicole Oliver said she is aiming to have all pl aygrounds open and ready for play by Friday, October 16. She said signs are being installed and tape and barriers removed, so some play areas may be o pen earlier than others.
Oliver said the decision to reopen playgroun ds was made with the support of the Whatcom County Health Department and is consistent with other agencies in our region that are also making play are as available this fall. She said the changing weather will help reduce the risk of too many people gathering at once, and she asks users to help by ob serving posted limits and guidelines.
“We cannot allow play areas to be places where COVID-19 is spread, so we need folks to use these spaces wi sely and follow the guidelines we have in place,” she said. “We’re all in t his together, so kindly help each other remember the limits and please choo se a different activity or a different park if a play area gets too crowded .”
Oliver said the following guidelines for playground use were devel oped in collaboration with the Whatcom County Health Department.
Play ground guidelines:
- All children over age two must wear a mask.
- Play equipment is open to five or fewer kids at a ti me.
- Some play areas have only one piece of play equipment (us ually a climber/slide combo), and others have many pieces of equipment (swings, little kid climber, big kid climber, etc.). No more tha n five kids on a piece of play equipment.
- Give yourself and others at least six feet of space.
- Stay home if you are sick or if anyone in your family is sick.
- Please wash y our child’s hands before and after play.
- The popular zi pline at Squalicum Creek Park will remain closed.
- Play areas are no t regularly sanitized or cleaned.
Tips on using the play areas and helping keep these spaces open:
- Keep a close eye on your chi ld to ensure that they are following the guidelines.
- Stay for a short time (30 minutes or less) to give everyone an opportunit y to play.
- No food or drink on the play equipment to ensure that ma sks are worn at all times.
- Visit parks during less busy times.
- Visit less popular parks. Bellingham has 38 play areas, not including those at schools.
- Mornings are less busy tha n afternoons.
- Weekdays are less busy than weekends.
- Remind others of the guidelines and find a different activity if the play area get s too crowded.
For more information about City play areas , contact Bellingham Parks & Recreation.