Cookeville city playgrounds reopening Saturday
COOKEVILLE – Cookeville’s city parks are reopening playgrounds June 13.
Parks with playgrounds include Cane Creek Park, Cinderella Park, Dogwood Park, Franklin Avenue Park, Park View Park and West End Park. While parks have remained open, playgrounds have been unavailable since mid-March to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We’ve had a lot of interest and a lot of requests, and we’re happy to be able to open those playgrounds for use again,” Rick Woods, Cookeville Leisure Services director, said. “We encourage people to practice social distancing by staying six feet away from those who are not members of their household.”
Users are encouraged to bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently and liberally.
“We will be cleaning playgrounds on a daily basis, but we cannot clean them after each touch,” Woods said.
Masks are recommended.
“We want people to take caution and use the facilities, structures, playgrounds and amenities at all of our parks at their own discretion and understanding that there is some risk,” Woods said. “We can’t possibly enforce all of the social behaviors that should be practiced.”
Additional signage is going up to remind users to practice social distancing and cover sneezes and coughs.
“We encourage people to be considerate of other users who are already on a particular swing or slide,” Woods said. “Leave plenty of distance and time before getting into that six-foot space.”
Playgrounds will be open during regular park hours.
While Dogwood Park’s Heart of the City Playground is reopening, the park’s fountain, where many gather to splash and play, will not be turned on at this point.
Paddleboat, kayak and canoe rentals at Cane Creek Park remain unavailable as well.
“We’ll look at resuming boat rentals in a future phase of reopening,” Woods said.
Picnic shelter reservations have resumed at Cane Creek Park, but only on Saturdays and Sundays and with fewer tables in keeping with social distancing guidelines. Usage on Monday through Friday is on a first-come, first served basis.
For more information about parks and playgrounds, call Cookeville Leisure Services at 931-520-4386.