MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Parks and recreation departments in three municipal towns are working to get parks ready before playgrounds reopen this weekend.
For the last six months, playgrounds in Shelby County have been closed. Bartlett, Collierville, and Germantown will reopen them for the first time Saturday.
Arlington and Millington already have opened their playgrounds.
The decision comes after an announcement this week by the Shelby County Health Department which said closed playgrounds were no longer included in the health directive. That meant municipalities could reopen them on their own merit.
About 65% of the parks across the state have reopened their playground structures. We are excited to join them," Ashley Carver with Collierville Tourism, said. "Since we closed in late March, we’ve heard from a lot of our residents about how important it is for their children and families to be using these structures.”
To prepare the playgrounds for reopening, park and recreation departments will be power washing them, freshening up mulch, and reinstalling equipment, such as swings.
“We’re checking every playground, playground safety checks, so that we’re making sure everything is safe," Shan Criswell, Bartlett Parks and Recreation Director, said.
Each department will also install new signs to remind people that they should still take precautions before playing, such as washing their hands and continued social distancing.
“Staff is working on signage to remind them of ways that they can stay safe - washing their hands before and after using the playground,” Carver said. “If you see a large group at the playground, maybe visit at another time or visit another playground.”
Following that and ensuring the playgrounds stay open will be up to those that use them.
“I think that most everybody is really believing that this is a pandemic now, they’re taking it seriously now so I think parents are going to be much more cautious than they would have been maybe a couple months ago," Criswell said.
A Lakeland spokesman said plans are being finalized to reopen its playgrounds.
As for the City of Memphis, which operates 162 parks, reopening playgrounds could be in the near future.
Doug McGowen, Chief Operating Officer City of Memphis, released this statement:
“The City of Memphis has 162 Parks, most of which have some type of recreational or play equipment. We have been monitoring pandemic data to determine when we can reopen safely and believe that based on improving positivity and case rates we may be able to safely reopen soon.”
