All Metro Parks facilities and offices will be closed to the public effective at 4:30 p.m., today, March 17 through Monday, April 6. The planned re-opening date (April 6) is contingent upon the impact of the coronavirus. The closures impact all facilities or offices with a close person-to-person public component.
Metro Parks Director Monique Odom said, "This continues to be a fluid situation for the entire county. We'll monitor this situation and make public updates as needed, but for now our facilities and offices are closed for the safety of the entire community. We had so looked forward to having our kids in for Spring Break, but for now public health is our number one priority."
Golf courses, parks, greenways and dog parks will remain open. However, patrons are urged to use the social distancing protocols recommended by the Center for Disease Control. The CDC defines social distancing as it applies to COVID-19 as "maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible."
Hadley, Hermitage, and East Park Community Centers are official FEMA sites and will remain open to those tornado victims needing assistance.
The Aquatic Center at the Centennial Sportsplex closed last night after a patron tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, the department's Maintenance Team is spraying and disinfecting every surface in the aquatics area utilizing the protocol established by the CDC. The cleaning process will continue for the rest of the day.
Anyone having questions regarding facilities, programs, permits, reservations, workshops, events, and classes should feel free to call Metro Parks at 615-862-8400 or check the Metro Parks website.