As the State progresses on its reopening plan, the City is working to continue keeping the safety of its employees and the community at large as top priority.
A plan has been drawn to reopen our buildings and facilities slowly and carefully. Some facilities and programs will not be available this summer, however.
The City of Goshen continues to stay up-to-date on the latest information from Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s office, track the numbers of COVID-19 cases in our county provided by the Indiana State Department of Health, and watch for updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All this information and more was taken into account when making the following decisions for our municipal buildings, facilities and programs.
“We want to continue serving the public as much as possible and regret the programs that we will have to cancel but please know we are doing this for everyone’s safety,” Mayor Jeremy Stutsman said. “COVID-19 is still a threat in our community, and we need to continue taking all necessary precautions to keep our loved ones safe.”
Beginning June 1, City Hall, the Annex Building, and the Reith Interpretive Center will be open with limited access Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon. On June 14, those City buildings will reopen fully to the public, though closely following CDC guidelines to mitigate the spread.
Virtual meetings will continue until June 4. The City will limit attendance in accordance to no more than 25 occupants in a meeting room. Meeting attendees will be asked to maintain social distancing. The City will work to continue streaming its public meetings.
Within the Parks & Recreation Department, all public restrooms, playgrounds, boat rentals at Fidler Pond Park and all athletic courts and the skate park will be open to the public beginning May 24.
Indoor and open-air pavilions will be available for rental beginning June 14. Recreation sports leagues and the splash pads also will open June 14. These facilities will be reopened with the understanding that residents need to follow the CDC’s recommendations of social distancing and practicing good hygiene by washing hands frequently.
The pool will remain closed this summer, as it is difficult to achieve the full scope of the CDC’s guidelines to keep the community safe. Other programs and events canceled this summer include the Discovery Day Camp, the Kids Triathlon and the Rock the Quarry Triathlon at Fidler Park, as social distancing cannot be achieved in these types of gatherings.
Tanya Heyde, Parks & Recreation Superintendent, said the department’s staff is working diligently to reopen park amenities to our community in accordance with state-issued guidelines.
“The Parks & Recreation Department is appreciative for the opportunity to serve our community, especially during this time when parks and local recreation are in such high demand,” she said. “We will continue to closely monitor the parks and remain up to date with the state and local recommendations as guidance to move forward or step back.”
Heyde added that while her staff will continue to work on keeping the City’s facilities clean at all times, it will take the community’s help to fully make our parks and facilities as safe as possible for everyone.
“I would like to thank the community for being patient as we navigate our way through the Pandemic,” she said. “I would also like to remind everyone to help us keep our parks open and our community safe by continuing to social distance, adhering to gathering restrictions and washing their hands frequently.”
For more information about the Parks & Recreation Department’s facilities, programs and events, call 534.2901, or visit the department’s Facebook page at facebook.com/GoshenParksRecreation or City’s website at goshenindiana.org.
For information about other City buildings opening, call 533.8621 or visit the City’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CityOfGoshen.