game for anything
Cities and towns cautiously opening recreation venues
The weather’s warming up, but whether you’re going to be able to paddle around in a public pool or shoot hoops at the local court depends on where you live.
Boston’s outdoor courts, playgrounds and pools remain closed, and, while fields and green spaces remain open for walkers and joggers, no team sports are allowed.
“We are in regular part of the conversation with the state right now as part of the reopening advisory board,” Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said at a press conference Tuesday when asked about pools, courts and other outdoors activities. “We are looking forward to learning more about the specifics of each.”
Walsh, asked about the city’s summer jobs programs, did say, “I do intend on having summer jobs in the city — I just don’t know what that’s going to look like right now.”
The guidelines from Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration for Phase 1 of the reopening, which started last week, say, “Athletic fields and athletic courts can be utilized only for noncontact sports, with no shared equipment, such as tennis and pickleball. No permits should be issued for group gatherings and users should not engage in pickup games, organized games or tournaments.”
Further phases likely will allow for more activities, Walsh noted in his press conference.
But you can shoot hoops right now in some of the some of the surrounding cities and towns.
In Quincy, residents can make an appointment to have a solo shoot-around, pickleball game or one-oneone tennis match under the watchful eyes of a city employee.
“The usage has been good, and people by and large have done their best to follow the rules,” said Chris Walker, chief of staff to Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch.
Cambridge is taking small steps toward reopening, for the first time since the pandemic fully spread moving to mow and spruce up city fields, though the city isn’t reopening any of the basketball or other courts yet.
Hingham, to the south, is beginning to reopen its fields and tennis courts, but with serious restrictions.
Somerville starting June 1 will open “recreation and outdoor areas, notably athletic fields and courts, boating, and outdoor gardens,” though playgrounds will remain closed.