By Katie Bisaro
The Village of Warwick Board of Trustees has decided to keep the playground at Stanley-Deming Park closed for the foreseeable future. The popular playground was closed last fall in response to overcrowding and non-compliance with mask and social distancing guidelines with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to continue the park closure came after a discussion at the Village Board meeting on Tues., Jan. 19.
In addition to its location in the Village within walking distance of several neighborhoods, as parks throughout the county began to close due to COVID-19 safety concerns, Stanley-Deming, with its new playground, attracted families from other towns. This led to overcrowding and discussions of the need for a monitor to control the amount of people in the park at any given time.
“One of the reasons why we really had to close was the intensity of use…so many people were simultaneously using this playground equipment, nobody was counting numbers and it just became a very precarious situation at certain points of the day,” stated Mayor Michael Newhard.
Proper and continued sanitization in cold weather as well as the rise of COVID-19 infection rates in the County were additional concerns raised by the Trustees. It was agreed that it might be a better time to discuss a timeframe to re-open in three to four months, with warmer weather, more vaccinations and perhaps a change in guidelines.
Basketball Court, Skate Park Closures Discussed
Trustee Bill Lindberg commented that the basketball courts at Stanley-Deming Park as well as the Skate Park at Veterans Memorial Park were experiencing the same non-compliance with mask wearing and social distancing.
Trustee George McManus stated that perhaps those park areas should be closed as well because it was unfair that one park was closed for those reasons and not the others.
“We are responsible as a Village and as officials, as much as we can, to stop the spread of the disease and we’re allowing a park to be open when we know they’re not wearing masks,” McManus said.
Trustee Bill Lindberg said that a better campaign promoting the need for masks and social distancing might help. McManus countered that the safety measures are not new, and that kids are required to follow those same safety guidelines when in school and should be expected to do so at the basketball court or skate park. There is also clear signage in both areas regarding the safety measures.
“If they [those who use the parks] haven’t gotten the message in the last 11 months, they’re not going to get that message,” McManus stated. “The only fair solution to everybody is to close the parks.”
Newhard stated that there is a certain amount of personal responsibility involved with the athletes at both facilities, basketball or skate park, as is the case for everyone at this time and is frustrated by the non-compliance.
Two-Week Reprieve
Mayor Newhard asked Trustee Lindberg to create a “significant campaign” and give it a two-week trial. At the Board’s next meeting, to take place on Mon., Feb. 1, a decision regarding whether to additionally close the basketball courts and skate park will be made.
Trustee Cheney further suggested seeking guidance from the Orange County Department of Health relative to the types of activities taking place and what the necessary safety measures and requirements are.
The playground at Stanley-Deming Park will remain closed due to health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
