Tuesday, May 05, 2020

Carthage Parks and Recreation offers guidelines for all fields, facilities

(From Carthage Parks and Recreation)

Carthage Parks and Recreation Patrons,

The health and wellness of our patrons and staff is always a top priority at Carthage, MO Parks and Recreation. 

During Phase I of the Show-Me Strong Recovery Plan for Missouri our Carthage Parks and Recreation facilities will continue to follow the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines as we move forward incrementally opening facilities and programs. 

Fair Acres, Carter Park, Kellogg Lake, Griggs Park, Central Park, Freer Park, Walnut Bottoms and Municipal Park 

- All bathrooms will open back up on May 4th. 

- All Playgrounds are closed to the public until May 31st . This is specifically part of the Governor’s order. 








- All Shelters will are closed. Reservations will begin again on June 1st . 

- All Courts and Fields will open back up on May 4th . 

- All organized activities are postponed. 

- Food Truck Friday will resume on June 12th. 


CARTHAGE GOLF COURSE  

Open for play through the normal tee time procedures. We will be CLOSED on Mondays through 5/18. Events will be restricted through 5/31/20. 

Events originally scheduled in April and May will be rescheduled to a later date when determined appropriate to host events. 

The clubhouse/pro shop will be closed to the public through May 18th. Payments will be taken through an access point on the west side of the building. 

Golf carts will have only one rider unless the second rider is a member of the same household. Golf carts will be thoroughly disinfected prior to and after golfer use. 

Water coolers will be taken off the course. We ask that you leave the flagsticks in the cups. Cups will have a plastic insert that will allow the ball to rest close to the surface of the green to pick up. There will be no holes cut on the practice green. 

Memorial Hall  

We will accept reservations for small events 5/19 through 5/31. All parties/events scheduled by the public will be limited to 30 people. 

Alcohol will be excluded from the options during May as we will not have accessible security for events. Correct distancing of tables and chairs will be provided for these events. We will reassess for June 1st based on the timing and details for Phase II of the Show-Me Strong Recovery Plan. 

Civil War Museum 

The Civil War Museum will be open on May 19. 

Carthage Saddle Club Arena  

No organized activity through 5/31. 








Municipal Pool  

Target date of Memorial Day weekend opening is still being planned. More information will be provided closer to opening related to maximum capacity and other practices in place to provide a safe environment. 

The Park Department Offices will open back up on May 19th. For help prior to May 19th please contact Mark Peterson, Director and Kailey Williams, Administrative Assistant by phone at 417 237 7035. 

In light of COVID-19, Carthage Parks and Recreation Department is urging anyone who visits a park to observe recommendations from public health officials and distance yourself from others in parks and on trails. 

In addition, residents should avoid touching surfaces including playground equipment, benches, bathroom door handles, and other sports equipment that are handled by others. 

The following must be observed in all of the parks – Subject to change without notice as situation develops. 

-Refrain from using parks or trails if you are exhibiting symptoms. 

-Observe CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of 6 feet from other individuals at all times. If this is not possible, users should find an alternate location or depart that space. 

Anyone using city parks or public areas in a prohibited fashion shall be deemed by the city as trespassing. 

We encourage our citizens to adhere to this order and take personal responsibility. Please help keep our community stay safe. 

Sports Courts and Fields  

Sports courts and fields will open up to the public May 4 with the intention of use for small groups and personal recreation. 

Small groups must abide by current CDC social distancing guidelines maintaining 6 feet from each other. 








The traditional sports with close proximity must be altered to achieve a physically distant environment. 

Examples of this would be using basketball courts to play shooting games rather than 1 on 1, 2 on 2 or team play games. 

Soccer should be played without individual contact. Baseball and softball must be limited to conditions that do not allow individual contact. These practices will be in place through a minimum of May 31. We will monitor our local environment for COVID-19 status changes and adjust accordingly. These guidelines may changes without notice. 

Baseball / Softball / Soccer Organized Youth Practices  

The following must be observed through May 31st . Please use all of your methods for communication to properly present all information to parents and players. The intention for these organized practices and tryouts is to give the players involved an opportunity to develop their skills prior to league play beginning in June. You must refrain from simulated games and scrimmages with other teams. 

The Carthage Parks and Recreation Department will clean restrooms each morning. It is each league's responsibility to provide cleaning procedures for bathrooms, dugouts and high touch point areas. 

The Carthage Parks and Recreation Department will tape off all bleachers. Please encourage all parents to provide their own seats while spectating. 

-Youth will be divided into small groups, no more than 10 with one coach included in that number. Different fields should be used to perform drills to evaluate skill level during the tryout process. 

-No sharing of equipment when at all possible. If equipment is shared, there must be a procedure in place for coaches and or parents to clean that equipment before additional use by another player. 

-The catcher and coach shall position themselves during a player’s at-bat to allow for social distancing. 

-Incorporate 6 feet social distancing to all in attendance as well as parents/guardians. 

-Parents / guardians and their immediate family may be the only spectators in attendance through May 31st. A spectator/parent-to-player ratio of 1:1 is to be followed during times of restricted gatherings. 

-Baseballs / Softballs / Soccer balls should remain in their original packaging until they need to be introduced into a practice. 

-No handshakes. No “high fives”. No team huddles. 

-Develop methods of noncontact celebrations and gestures of sportsmanship. 

-All teams are directed to clean their dugouts and team bench areas on arrival and departure. 

-No spitting. No sunflower seeds. 

-Incorporate signage to remind parents to maintain social distance. 

-Limit the number of players allowed to be in a dugout or bench area to maintain distancing. If/when needed have additional youth behind the dugout. 

-Practice time slots should be lengthened so that an incoming team has no chance of personal contact with a team that has just practiced. 

-Players should bring their own, personal cooler instead of using a team cooler. No sharing of water bottles. Each player must have their own water container, or teams should provide disposable cups for their players and coaching staff. 

-Concession stands remain closed through May 31st. 

-Bathrooms and high touch point areas must be cleaned on a frequent schedule. 

Carthage Parks and Recreation will stay in communication with each youth organization practicing during the month of May in City of Carthage facilities. 

Each organization must provide this information to all coaches. Each coach must agree to provide an environment that allows for these procedures to be in place. One coach should be designated for each team to be responsible for administering these procedures.

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