Moving her workout routine from her garage back to a modern facility on Tuesday, retired resident Cathy MacDougal said she’s happy to be using better equipment again while having the chance to see old friends.
“I’m so glad to be able to come back,” MacDougal said, mask at the ready. “I’m the only one here but I think that’s just because people don’t know it’s open.”
The Crawfordsville Community Center is one public facility available after a reopening on Tuesday.
Though certain high-contact equipment, such as playgrounds, remain off limits for a few more weeks, the center and other services are opening after months of closure due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“It’s pretty basic — we’re asking people not to come in if they’re sick,” Parks and Recreation Director Fawn Johnson said. “If they do come in, we’re recommending they wear masks. It’s not a requirement, but it is a recommendation.”
Johnson shed light on classes and activities typically bustling with participants as summer approaches, even as the center’s gymnasium sat dark due to lack of use.
The Milligan Park Pool, for instance, will open for the summer on June 14.
“Parks are open, trails are open, basketball courts are open ... and the skate park just reopened (May 22),” Johnson said. “It’s been locked up for a while. I’m sure there are some kids who have been itching to get back out there.”
However, playground equipment remains taped off as the department awaits guidelines for safe use.
“Playgrounds were supposed to reopen but then that got pushed back,” Johnson said. “I’m guessing it’s because of the contact and the number of people being on the same equipment with no real sanitizing happening like it would on some others.”
Group classes are still postponed for the time being, she added.
“We’ll start the majority of our group classes on June 14,” Johnson said. “We won’t start senior-specific classes until after July 4.”
Additionally, several summer jobs have yet to be filled as the department ramps up for a more user-friendly summer.
Lifeguard and mowing positions were cited by Johnson, and the department’s Facebook page adds concession stand workers, pool cashiers and front desk help to the list.
Lifeguards must be ages 15 and older, and concession stand workers must be aged 14 or older.
Applications may be picked up in person or by contacting Johnson at fjohnson@crawfordsville-on.gov.
For more information, contact the Community Center at 765-364-5175.
