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The City of Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department looks forward to providing recreation opportunities and spaces for our community. In consideration of Governor Bullock’s guidelines and directives, as well as CDC and the City-County Health Department guidelines, outlined in blue, we have developed a phased approach to reopening parks. The green sections of the plan are the initial guidelines the Parks and Recreation Department will follow. However, we will continually assess measures as we move through each phase. This plan is meant to balance the need for and benefits of recreation while operating within the guidelines set forth for social distancing and sanitation measures. It is important to note that this is a fluid document and may be revised as needed. While we prepare to reopen parks, we will work diligently to secure appropriate sanitation resources, develop necessary signage, train staff on new protocols, and obtain necessary PPE for our staff and program participants. We will continue to keep our community updated as we move through the phases of the plan. We ask that you are patient with us as we work through each phase of the plan, and we ask that all citizens abide by all established rules and requirements to keep our community safe. Please direct all questions to the Parks and Recreation Department by calling 863-2470. We look forward to recreating with you all again soon. ---PAGE BREAK--- Whitefish Parks and Recreation Reopening Plan Phase I – Preparation • Vulnerable individuals continue to follow stay at home guidance • All individuals when in public should maximize physical distance • Limit groups to 10 people where physical distancing cannot be achieved • Minimize non-essential travel • Childcare settings and youth activities can become operational if physical distancing can be achieved and with limited group size • Outdoor recreation opportunities can be provided with physical distancing requirements and sanitation protocols Parks and Trails • Essential services: garbage pickup, construction management (site visits), preparation of parks for reopening and providing necessary protocols and PPE for staff • No park or park amenity will be opened until parks have been prepared for reopening with appropriate measurements for social distancing and sanitation • Open parks and trails o All bicycle and pedestrian paths and trails o The Whitefish Trail (expect bathroom closures and limited garbage facilities) o All open space parks • Closed parks and amenities: o All playgrounds o All basketball courts o All pickleball and tennis courts o Skate park o Dog park o Public restrooms o Garbage labeled “Pack in /Pack out” • Please be aware that Crowded Parks = Closed Parks Facilities • Essential services: construction management (site visits), preparation of facilities for reopening and providing necessary protocols and PPE for staff • No facility will be opened until it has been prepared for reopening with appropriate measurements for social distancing and sanitation • Facilities eligible for opening pending appropriate sanitization measure in place: o Gazebos with proper physical distancing, groups of no more than 10 people, and appropriate sanitation measures (no rentals at this time) • Closed public facilities: o Armory o Ice Den o Public restrooms o City Beach Concessions Urban Forestry • Assist with opening of parks and parks maintenance • Begin Cash in Lieu of Street Trees and Adopt A Trees ---PAGE BREAK--- • Minimal Urban Forestry Maintenance City Beach • Boat launch remains in off-season status (online, self-certification for launching access) while Rangers are trained in appropriate protocols and guidelines and launch is prepped for reopening • Dock installation • Decontamination Station prepped for reopening • AIS inspections begin at State Park when open Recreation • Current programming cancelled • Before and After School will not reopen this year • Online, virtual programming offered through Facebook, Instagram, and WebEx continues • Preparation of modified programming Boards and Committees • Board and committee meetings cancelled: o Park Board o Tree Advisory o Bicycle Pedestrian Committee o Connect Whitefish o LLAC o Whitefish Trails Operations Committee Special Events • Special events remain cancelled ---PAGE BREAK--- Whitefish Parks and Recreation Reopening Plan Phase II – Reopening • Vulnerable individuals continue to follow stay at home guidance • All individuals when in public should maximize physical distance • Limit groups to 50 people where physical distancing cannot be achieved • Minimize non-essential travel • Childcare settings and youth activities can become operational with physical distancing and with limited group sizes • Outdoor recreation opportunities can be provided with physical distancing requirements and sanitation protocols Parks and Trails • Standard parks maintenance • Parks and park amenities eligible for reopening with reduced capacity guidelines: o Pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts with social distancing and appropriate sanitation measures o WAG Dog Park with social distancing guidelines and appropriate sanitation measures o Skate Park with social distancing and appropriate sanitation measures o Public restrooms with appropriate sanitation measures o Garbage • Closed parks and amenities: o All playgrounds Facilities • Standard facility maintenance • Facilities eligible for reopening with reduced capacity guidelines: o Stumptown Ice Den with proper physical distancing, limited group size, appropriate sanitation facilities and measures o Armory with proper physical distancing, limited group size, and appropriate sanitation measures o Gazebo rentals resume o Public restrooms o City Beach Concessions with proper physical distancing and sanitation measures in place Urban Forestry • Standard urban forestry practices City Beach • Boat launch opens with protocols and guidelines for social distancing and sanitation • Decontamination Station opens • AIS inspections provided at State Park and City Beach Recreation • Online, virtual programming offered through Facebook, Instagram, and WebEx continues • Modified programming that maximizes physical distancing and limits group size Boards and Committees • Board and committee meetings cancelled: o Park Board o Tree Advisory o Bicycle Pedestrian Committee o Connect Whitefish o LLAC o Whitefish Trails Operations Committee Special Events • Special events permitted with physical distancing guidelines, limited group size, and appropriate sanitation measures in place ---PAGE BREAK--- Whitefish Parks and Recreation Reopening Plan Phase III – Complete Opening • Vulnerable individuals practice physical distancing and continue to take precautionary measures • All individuals should limit contact time with others and limit time in crowded spaces • Non-essential travel can resume • Childcare settings and youth activities can resume considering limited time spent in crowded environments • Outdoor recreation opportunities can resume, and playgrounds can open • No limit to group size, but physical distancing should still be observed Parks and Trails • Standard parks maintenance • All parks and park amenities are open with reminders of revised social distancing guidelines Facilities • Standard facility maintenance • All facilities are open with reminders of revised social distancing guidelines Urban Forestry • Standard urban forestry practices resume City Beach • Boat launch remains open with revised protocols and guidelines for social distancing • Decontamination Station remains open • AIS inspections provided at State Park and City Beach Recreation • Programming can resume with consideration of social distancing and limited time spent in crowded environments Boards and Committees • Board and Committee Meetings Resume o Park Board o Tree Advisory o Bicycle Pedestrian Committee o Connect Whitefish o LLAC o Whitefish Trails Operations Committee Special Events • Special events can resume with no limit to group size