Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Playgrounds at municipal parks in the area remain closed.
In Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Falls Township, Middletown Township, and several other Levittown-area communities, playgrounds remain closed and often are surrounded with warning signs and caution tape.
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Local municipal officials said they have been receiving calls and emails from the public about playground reopenings. At some parks, caution tape placed around play equipment has been removed by frustrated locals.
Posts and video on the ReOpen Bucks County PA Facebook group share tales of citizens removing the caution tape in order to let kids use the play equipment.
“This is beautiful,” one comment said in response to a photo of a woman cutting down caution tape.
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While playgrounds remain closed, local parks are open for socially distant recreation.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to advise Americans to go outside for recreation but avoid playgrounds. The guideline states that social distancing might be difficult at play areas, keeping playground surfaces disinfected can be challenging, and contaminated equipment could easily spread COVID-19 as kids touch their hands to their eyes, nose, or mouth.
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“Do not use playgrounds. They are risky because of their high-touch nature, and they are not cleaned regularly,” according to a COVID-19 reopening guide from the state.
Under Pennsylvania’s phased reopening plan, Bucks County remains in the “red” phase until next Friday. At that time, the county will move to the less restrictive “yellow” phase, which could allow for the state green light for towns to reopening playgrounds.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which runs state parks, said Thursday that swimming beaches and some pools at its sites will begin reopening. In addition, state parks will have at least one bathroom open. However, the agency stated that picnic pavilions and playgrounds will remain closed “until further notice.”
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Earlier this week, Bucks County Health Director Dr. David Damsker and the Bucks County Emergency Management Department advised municipalities that playgrounds may reopen. The information sent was not a directive, but an advisory for communities.
“We just received this latest guidance/info from the county and will be reviewing it and look to announce a decision on reopening the playgrounds in the near future,” Falls Township Parks and Recreation Director Brian Andrews said on Wednesday.
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In Middletown Township, Parks and Recreation Director Paul Kopera said the township will be considering guidance from government agencies and the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society when looking at reopening playgrounds.
Jessica Fox, the director of parks and recreation in Bristol Township, said playgrounds and athletic fields will remain closed in the community through the red phase of the state’s reopening plan, but options are being looked at for potentially reopening in the yellow phase.
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“The situation is fluid and unpredictable, but we are working to determine the best path forward,” Fox said.
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