By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
After more than 10 weeks of being off limits, the Great Bend City Council voted 6-1 Monday night to reopen access to city playgrounds. The City of Great Bend now joins the Great Bend Recreation Commission and USD 428 in opening up playgrounds throughout town.
The playgrounds were closed and fenced
off following a March 20 decision to prevent the spread of the
coronavirus.
"I really believe everything playground wise is open, except for the city," said Mayor Cody Schmidt. "It only makes sense to me that with everyone else open, we go ahead and open."
The initial plan of phased in reopening for city operations was to allow access
to playgrounds June 22, but councilmembers Lindsey Krom-Craven and
Jolene Biggs suggested reopening them immediately.
City Administrator Kendal
Francis says there will be caution signs posted and the playgrounds will be
cleaned once a day.
"We will do everything we can to make it clean and sanitized, but we do have limits," said Francis.
The City Council also approved the reopening of public restrooms.
The City of Great Bend plans on returning to normal staffing schedules and
operations June 8 and the Wetlands Waterpark June 15.