Phased opening of Montco parks begins
» Montgomery County officials announced last week that they will implement a “phased reopening plan” beginning this week for the county’s parks, which have been closed for weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Norristown Farm Park will be the first to reopen.
“We have built this plan based on (federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) measures to mitigate the spread of disease and also on various guidance documents including the Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh explained on Monday.
“This phased reopening plan is predicated on requiring social distancing of at least six-feet between non-household contacts in the park and wearing of masks in the parks any time visitors will be near other park users or non-household contacts,” Arkoosh added. “We will be limiting opening to certain areas of each park and we will be providing signage and extra contracted cleaning services to support the implementation of this guidance. We’re excited to be able to get those parks open.”
Norristown Farm Park opened June 10. All outdoor areas will be open but the park office will be open by appointment only. All indoor areas and pavilion areas will be closed but one restroom will be open.
If that park’s reopening is successful, then Lock 60, Green Lane Park, Upper Schuylkill Valley Park and Central Perkiomen Valley Park will reopen on June 15. Lower Perkiomen Valley Park and Lorimer Park in Abington will reopen on June 22.
“When Green Lane Park opens, you will be able to fish there, but again, please make sure you practice physical distancing,” Arkoosh said.