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March 18, 2020 Dear Whitefish Residents, Visitors, and Business Owners, The City of Whitefish continues to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local officials. With the recent recommendations to limit gatherings to 10 people or less to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have enacted additional measures. On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Whitefish Park Board approved the following changes to the operations of our city parks and park facilities: ● All open space parks will remain open with signs recommending social distancing. ● The Hugh Rogers WAG Dog Park will remain open with signs recommending social distancing. ● All pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts will remain open with signs recommending social distancing. ● All gazebo rentals currently booked will be cancelled due to those typically being rented for gatherings of more than 10 people. Gazebos will remain open for the general public’s use. ● All public park facilities (Ice Den, Armory, and City Beach Concessions) are closed until further notice. ● All public playgrounds are closed until further notice. ● All park events are postponed until further notice. ● All park restrooms will remain closed until further notice. ● The boat launch will remain in the off-season status until further notice. This public health crisis has us all facing unprecedented challenges that are causing far reaching impacts in our community. We know many of you enjoy using our parks and park facilities, but this is in the best interest of our community as we are committed to your health and wellbeing. For more information or questions about outdoor recreation in Whitefish, please call our Parks & Recreations Department at [PHONE REDACTED]. They have great ideas to keep us recreating in the outdoors, especially as spring weather and sun starts to move in. The City is in the process of designating and signing four parking spaces per block on Central Avenue for 5-minute curbside pickup. We appreciate the businesses that are proactively adjusting their operations in an effort to implement the recommended guidance from Flathead City-County Health Department and other agencies. ---PAGE BREAK--- As a reminder, City Hall offices are closed to the public from March 18 through March 27, 2020. We will continue to offer our full range of services at City Hall by phone and email from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. We currently provide remote payment options by phone, by mail, or online. Our payment drop box located off of Baker Avenue will remain open and checked frequently throughout the day. We will also have a drop-off and pick up location for building plans, applications, and other documents for various departments in the City Hall vestibule. Doors to the City Hall lobby will remain locked. An extension of this closure will be considered on a week-by-week basis beginning March 27, 2020. Important contact information: General inquiries or to make payment: [PHONE REDACTED] Planning & Building Department: [PHONE REDACTED] Public Works Department: [PHONE REDACTED] Utility Billing Department: [PHONE REDACTED] Parks & Recreation Department: [PHONE REDACTED] Thank you for remaining vigilant in the endeavor to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). I am confident we will make it through this difficult time together. We are a strong and resilient community with friendly and kind individuals. Please continue to support each other as we all face unmatched challenges now and in the coming weeks. Sincerely, Dana Smith City Manager City of Whitefish