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Partial Closure of Recreation Facilities

Posted on: March 26, 2020 - 8:36am

MEMORANDIUM

TO:                  Town of Colchester

FROM:             Mary Bylone

SUBJECT:         Partial Closure of Recreation Areas

DATE:              March 25, 2020

Today, March 25, 2020, I made the very difficult decision to close some of our town’s recreational facilities.  This has been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make since taking office in November.  Believe me, I did not make this decision in isolation.  I did not make this decision without considering all of the possible implications.  I made the decision after a conversation with area leaders from surrounding towns who are facing the same challenges we are seeing here in Colchester.  Despite repeated pleading, explaining and survelliance, we have been unable to get some people to act responsibly related to the restrictions necessary to prevent transmission of the coronavirus.  This virus is responsible for a global pandemic.  Every day, more and more CT residents test positive for the disease.  The number of people hospitalized and the deaths continue to increase.  This virus is deadly.

On March 10th, Governor Lamont declared a state of emergency and began issuing Executive Orders to restrict crowd size, follow precautions for social distancing and other strategies to decrease and slow the spread of this virus.  The Executive Orders made violation of these mandates criminal, yet this has not stopped people from gathering in larger numbers, standing close to each other or playing sports, which create skin to skin contact and personal closeness.

This situation has made the following closures necessary:

  • Town and School Basketball Courts
  • Town and School Tennis Courts
  • Town and School Play-scape areas

I have also removed the Porta-Potty from the Dog Park and will not install the usual ones in our park areas until the Executive Orders are reversed.  We have placed signs about social distancing and equipment/area closures and we are increasing surveillance in these locations to observe and enforce compliance.  I am also reminding all coaches and League Presidents that we have suspended all use of our fields for organized sports.  Please direct your questions to me by email or calling the office.