By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County Park District will take a soft opening approach to renting out its facilities after they have been closed for a year due to COVID.
The park board voted Tuesday to open the buildings at W.W. Knight Preserve and Otsego Park, beginning in April. There are just six rental reservations for the month at the two facilities.
“That’s a good chance to test it,” said park district director Neil Munger.
If all goes well, the park facilities will soon progress to opening in full.
“We could keep the facilities open now – finally,” Munger said.
In a normal year, the Wood County Park District brings in about $100,000 from rental of park facilities. In the last 10 months, that revenue has run dry.
“It’s a hit to us, for sure,” Munger said last month.
But more important than the revenue, is the health of park patrons, Munger said.
“It would be a little irresponsible of us” to open park facilities for rentals when Wood County and much of the state are still in Level 3 for COVID-19.
Park police will have the authority to close down rentals if safety measures aren’t being followed.
“They have the capacity to shut it down,” Munger said. “Hopefully it won’t come to that.”
Adherence to the new safety policies will affect the park district’s ability to keep the rental facilities open, he said.
“The only way we’ll keep them open is if people follow the rules,” Munger said.
Renters will have to sign a COVID supplemental agreement requiring them to:
- Practice social distancing of 6 feet between people in the facilities, porches, deck areas and on the grounds.
- Wear face coverings except when actively eating or drinking.
- Keep tables and chairs at least 6 feet apart. Tables and chairs will be prearranged by the park district, and cannot be moved or added to during an event.
- Not exceed the maximum of 60 people in facilities at Otsego Park and W.W. Knight Preserve. Both buildings normally hold 120 people.
- Family members from the same household should share a table to the fullest extent possible.
- Not allow buffet dining. Food must be served by people wearing masks and gloves.
- Use the cleaning supplies provided by the park district to clean high-contact surfaces hourly.
- Not permit dance floors or areas for congregating. All guests must remain seated during the event.
- No one with COVID symptoms – including cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell – will be allowed to enter.
- Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in the immediate termination of an event, forfeiture of deposit, and may result in being banned from future rental of park district facilities.
