March 28 COVID-19 Briefs: Public Parks Push Passive Use
Group Games Banned in Public Parks
Communities including North Adams have been removing hoop rims to discourage youth congregating at public parks.
North Adams Administrative Officer Michael Canales said the hoop rims were removed from parks including Noel Field and UNO because young people were gathering there.
"Right now parks only for passive recreation," he said. "We removed the rims because even if they're passing a basketball between them, they're making contact through the ball. ... We want them to socially distance."
North Adams has installed large signs at the parks reminding residents of the rules but Canales acknowledged it has been difficult to enforce at the skate park.
Adams has also closed all its athletic fields, skate park and playground equipment, although passive use can continue including on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail if people follow the 6-foot rule.
Pittsfield is removing some of its playground equipment and roping off areas to discourage use.
State parks are also open, however, "if visitors of state parks observe areas with high concentrations of people, the public is asked to leave the location and either visit a different park in the area or return at a later date or time."
Pittsfield Updates Meal Sites
Effective Monday, March 30, the Pittsfield Public Schools will begin a new schedule for breakfast and lunch service. Meal service for will run from noon to 1 p.m.
The program will be in effect Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On each day that the meal program is in operation, students will receive meals for multiple days.
The new schedule is as follows:
- Monday: meals for Monday and Tuesday
- Wednesday: meals for Wednesday and Thursday
- Friday: meals for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
The following sites throughout Pittsfield are as follows:
- Morningside Community School, 100 Burbank St.
- Conte Community School, 200 West Union St.
- Dower Square Housing Village, 253 Wahconah St.
- The Berkshire Family YMCA, 292 North St.
- Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires,16 Melville St.
- Brattlebrook Apartments, April Lane.
- Berkshire Peak Apartments, 341 West St.
- Wilson Park Housing, Memorial Drive.
Lenox Offices Closed
The Lenox Town Hall offices are closed and staff are checking emails and voicemails remotely. A drop box has been placed in the Police Department lobby intended for correspondence that would normally have to be dropped off in a town office.
Orchards Hotel Closes
The Orchards Hotel in Williamstown posted on Facebook that it was closing "in the best interest of our community at large."
"Per directives and guidance from state officials and the CDC, and in light of recent events, it means that we have made the difficult choice to suspend operations at our hotel for the time being," wrote general manager Janell LaFleche. "We are monitoring this evolving situation constantly and look forward to reopening our doors and welcoming you as soon as possible."
Tags: COVID-19,
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