3/29/20 CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE UPDATE – CLOSURE OF PLAYGROUNDS AND BALL COURTS

RE: CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE UPDATE – CLOSURE OF PLAYGROUNDS AND BALL COURTS
Neighbors:

In the interest of protecting our residents from Covid-19, Nether Providence, in coordination with Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, is closing all recreational equipment within our public spaces, schools and parks. Township parks and outdoor public spaces themselves will remain open.

What Does This Mean for You?
• NOT ALLOWED: No one may use the playgrounds within our parks, schools, and houses of worship. All public playgrounds are now closed.
• NOT ALLOWED: No one may play basketball, tennis (or any paddle sport), baseball and football in any park, school, or place of worship.
• ALLOWED: All, non-contact uses of Township parks for exercise, recreation, or any other reason. Please remember to keep 6 feet between you (or your kids) and anyone else using that park who is not within your household.

These prohibitions take effect immediately. Until retracted, they apply to all public playgrounds at Township parks, school district facilities, recreational facilities, and houses of worship.

Additional Background on the School and Township’s Decision
The Township did not make this decision lightly. Two weeks ago, the Township strongly advised that the use of playgrounds and basketball and other multi-player games should be avoided. We placed signs at the playgrounds and courts urging residents not to use play equipment or basketball courts. Each day since then, your Public Works department has sprayed every Township and School playground with a water and bleach solution.

The Township now has 10 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and is experiencing community spread. Still, people are using basketball and tennis courts throughout town. And we’ve seen residents of other towns using our courts – possibly due to restrictions elsewhere — risking broader transmission and endangering more people. We now believe it necessary to formally prohibit the use of play equipment and courts.

Be well,
Your Board of Commissioners