The City of Knox has reopened its government buildings, but reopening certain park facilities will take a bit longer. Clerk-Treasurer Cyndi Mann-Kidder told the city council Tuesday that city hall is now open to the public. “There are sanitation stations in place at both entries, indoors and outdoors,” she explained. City council meetings are expected to move back to city hall starting in June.
Mayor Dennis Estok said the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center is once again available for events with up to 100 people, but park shelters remain closed. “Here’s the thing: if we open, if we let the people rent the shelters down there, the pavilions, who is going to manage the social distancing and the crowd? Or do you ignore it?” Estok asked.
Estok said he is willing to consider the possibility of opening other park facilities like the basketball court and baseball diamond, noting that people do need to get outside. Playgrounds currently have to remain closed under the governor’s order, and no date has been determined yet for their reopening. Estok said that when they do reopen, parents will be encouraged to bring their own sanitizer as another protection against COVID-19.
