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Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department have made the decision to extend closures at many Parks Department facilities until further notice. The decision was made as a safety precaution following the recent surge of COVID-19 cases. The closures include permitted reservations, such as private leagues and private gatherings at Parks Department ballfields, pavilions, facilities, and Community Centers. MacGregor Park and Settegast Park will remain open for practice and games for the Texas Southern University men's baseball and women's softball teams because of a NCAA sanctioned agreement between TSU and HPARD that allows collegiate sports play at those facilities. Tennis, golf, and footgolf are allowed because they are not group sports.
"We know that the extended closures of our park facilities and amenities are a frustrating situation for many of our families," said Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston. "We sympathize with each and every one of you, but in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus we must make some hard choices for the greater good. This is one of them. We assure you that once the COVID-19 numbers are under control in Houston we will reopen as quickly as we can."
Currently, reservations for outdoor area rentals, including sports fields, are not being accepted. Customers are allowed to use outdoor facilities and open access sports fields on a first come, first serve basis, but only to those of groups of 4 or less. No Community Centers are open to the general public.
"We are not out of the woods yet with this virus," said Kenneth Allen, Interim Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department. "So, we must take every precaution at our disposal to keep our neighbors safe and out of harm's way. When we gain the upper hand on COVID-19 and its spread we will take the necessary steps to return to normal in our parks."
January was the deadliest month of the pandemic in the United States with more than 95,000 COVID-19 deaths reported. CDC guidelines urge individuals to wear masks, social distance, and practice good hygiene to help slow the spread of the virus.
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