Parks & Recreation Commission Posts Phase 2 Openings and Guidelines

Effective June 11, 2020. All Town of Bolton public parks, including basketball court, athletic fields, and playground will be opened for use with the following restrictions. All visitors must adhere to the following listed guidelines. 

Face Coverings and Masks: 

All visitors to parks, basketball courts, athletic fields, and playground must comply with COVID-19 Order 31 regarding face coverings and masks.

Social Distancing and Hygiene:

• Persons using parks, basketball court, athletic fields, and playground must maintain 6 feet of distance from other persons.
• Parents, guardians and other adults supervising children should monitor children at all times to ensure children maintain proper distancing and adhere to requirements for face coverings.
• Children and adults who feel sick or who are recovering from an illness may not visit the parks, basketball court, athletic fields, and playground.
• Users should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before and after visiting Town properties.
• Programs must separate participants into groups of no more than 10 persons,including coaches and staff. Larger playing areas and surfaces, such as athletic fields may be used by more than one group of 10 at one time, provided that adequate social distancing and group separation can be maintained. To ensure group separation, groups must be spaced at least 20 feet apart while sharing a playing surface or field.
• Scrimmages, organized games and tournaments are not allowed for contact sports. Activities must be limited to no-contact drills and training exercises. Contact sports are those where ordinary play puts players into contact or close proximity to one another, and include, without limitation, basketball, football, baseball, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse.

Trash Disposal:

When visiting public properties without trash receptacles, visitors should adhere to a strict “carry in, carry out” policy and take waste with them.

Picnic Tables and Benches: 

Picnic tables and benches are NOT sanitized.  Use at your own risk.

Swimming Lessons:

Due to physical distancing requirements, the Commission will not be able to offer swim lessons during the 2020 beach season.  The Parks & Rec Coordinator will be in touch with registrants and all registration fees will be refunded. 

Town Beach:

Effective June 13, 2020 the Town Beach will reopen. Visitors must comply with COVID-19 Order 31: Order Requiring Face Coverings in Public Places Where Social Distancing is Not Possible. Any person over the age of 2 is required to wear a face covering or mask when they cannot maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves and others, unless they have a medical condition preventing them from doing so.  Face masks are not required when swimming.

• Beach is open to Bolton residents only. Proof of residency is required.
• Beach Hours:  10:30 AM - 5:00 PM  (No one may use the beach outside of beach hours).
• Beach visitors are limited to 2 hours during busy times. 
• To allow for adequate distancing and for ingress, egress, and transit across the beach, beach capacity may be capped at 30 people. 
• Visitors are required to maintain distance of at least 6 feet or more at all times and visitors should maintain at least 12 feet minimum distance between toweling/beach blanket areas. 
• No groups larger than 10 are allowed to gather.
• Organized ball games are not allowed.
• Visitors shall abide by distancing standards for Porta Potty line.
• A minimum distance of 6 feet shall be maintained between lifeguards and between the public and lifeguard stands unless in the case of an emergency.
• The Commission will not supply beach toys. Sand toys should not be shared between families and any toys left on the beach will be disposed of at the end of the day.
• Picnic tables and benches are not sanitized. Use at your own risk.
• Failure to comply with these rules or lifeguard instructions may result in the lifeguard notifying the police. 

These guidelines will apply until amended or rescinded.  Any questions regarding this guidance can be sent to parks@townofbolton.com.

Thank you,

Town of Bolton, Parks & Recreation Commission