Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
BACK WITH A SPLASH
Broward’s beaches and gyms reopen with restrictions as officials stress prudence
After gazing at untouched sand blockaded by caution tape and barriers for two months, Broward residents were finally allowed to hit the beaches Tuesday.
The remnants of heavy rains and local officials emphasizing new restrictions and prudence didn’t exactly make for a great beach day. But with the coronavirus upheaval of lives lost, jobs lost and businesses shuttered, the day still felt like a celebration.
John Gillen, of Victoria Park in Fort Lauderdale, walked onto the beach early on Tuesday morning at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A and raised his arms triumphantly. It was the first time he’d touched sand since March 16. He let out a hoot underneath his mask.
“You can’t see it, but I’m grinning from ear to ear,” he said. “It’s been painful to walk by every day and not be able to come out here.”
Broward’s opening follows Palm Beach County’s reopening last week. Miami-Dade beaches are set to open on June 1.
Those heading out to the beach in Broward contend with new safety restrictions that include no picnicking, sunbathing, sitting or lying on the beach. No chairs, umbrellas or coolers are allowed. Organized sports are prohibited, as are groups of more than 10 people.
Hotels in Broward also were allowed to open, but some including the Margaritaville Holly
wood Beach Resort in Hollywood, plan to wait to open up reservations until June, when they hope restrictions will be eased for beach-goers.
“We’re not going to open our hotel until June 1. People are not making reservations,” said Brenda Arenas, general manager at the Hotel Sheldon on Hollywood beach.
Gyms and fitness centers also opened back up at 50% capacity, along with new requirements.
Members are required to cover their faces except when they are working out and cooling down. They can also be denied entry if their temperature is above 100.4 degrees. The workout equipment they use must be spaced apart and disinfecting wipes must be used to sanitize each machine after use.
While many gym chains such as LA Fitness, YouFit and Planet Fitness remained closed on Tuesday, smaller gyms like Crossfit Hardcore West in Parkland were open.
About five people were working out and everyone, including trainer Kimberly Price, wore masks. Price said gyms opening again was not just good for business, but for the health of residents.
“I think people want to come back because this is mentally and physically necessary for us as human beings,” she said. “For a lot of us this is not only for physical health, but also mental health and social health.”
At F45 Training Coconut Creek, owners Brian Hirsch and Jason Cassano were busy vacuuming and cleaning up the small gym after a boot camp class finished. Two members worked out in designated squares on the floor to keep them socially distanced. Sanitizer and wipes stations dotted the gym and the weights were spaced among the floor markings to make it easy for members to grab them without bumping into others.
It was the sort of scene Broward officials hope to see more of.
Broward Mayor Dale Holness stressed the need to maintain a united front in efforts to further reopen South Florida.
“It’s going to take all of us to continue to collaborate across city lines,” he said at a news conference at Las Olas and A1A in Fort Lauderdale. “COVID-19 knows no city boundaries.”
Mayors from Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach and Hallandale Beach were also present.
Like every leader who spoke, Holness stressed prudence. “We’ve got to continue to follow the rules that we’ve set forth,” he said, mentioning social distancing and masks.
Mayor Dean Trantalis echoed those words, saying the city of Fort Lauderdale would be proceeding with optimistic caution. “Please do not ignore these policies,” he said.
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said that while he is confident residents will comply with new restrictions, police officers would issue warnings, write citations and make arrests if necessary. Holness said fines would vary between $1,000 and $15,000.
“We don’t want to go to the extremes,” he said, “but we must make sure that we are protecting the health and well-being of people in Broward County.”
On Fort Lauderdale beach, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom said lifeguards will serve as “ambassadors” to help with the enforcement of rules.
In Pompano Beach, sheriff’s deputies mounted on ATVs were warned groups of beach-goers congregating near the water’s edge not to put down towels or blankets.
Olivia Tallman, a graduating senior from Cardinal Gibbons High School, was among those on the beach. She wore her bright red cap and gown and had her family in tow to take photographs. Tallman didn’t even realize the beach was open until she saw people on the sand. She was pleasantly surprised. “I missed it so much,” she said.
In Deerfield Beach, police tape and crowd control barriers still lined A1A, leaving only a few access points to the sand.
Nicole Burks, who lives in Coral Springs and works as a nurse at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, boogie boarded in the water with her son James Rodriguez. Burks said being on the beach for the first time since March felt amazing. “Like finally getting back to normal.”
Greg Martin, armed with a metal detector, hunted for lost jewelry and loose change by the shoreline in Fort Lauderdale.
Martin, of Margate, hit Boca Raton and Delray Beach last week after Palm Beach County opened up and found a religious pendant and $15 in change. When he learned that Broward County was opening up Tuesday, he headed to Fort Lauderdale first thing in the morning.
By the afternoon his grand haul was a penny, but he didn’t seem to mind. The open sand and the sunshine were enough of a prize. “It looks beautiful,” he said. “Perfect day.”