Parks and Recreation revamps programs

CHENEY – Summertime Parks and Recreation programs are a mixture of the old and the new this year.

While many planned offerings have been canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic health and safety restrictions, Cheney staff have worked to preserve a few staples of previous years while offering something new for kids and parents. One of those new activities is “Mobile Rec (coming to a park near you).

Like the title, Parks and Recreation staff will be loading the department van each Wednesday from now through Aug. 13 with activities and equipment for regular and structured play and setting up in one of Cheney’s parks from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Parks and Recreation Director Kelly McGinley-Ashe said staff has produced a binder full of activities broken into specific age groups, including relays, story-telling games and the popular “Steal the Bacon.”

“Everything will be socially distances,” she added. “We’re also going to bring some balls, Frisbees and hula hoops so kids can grab whatever they want and just play.”

McGinley-Ashe said the structured games are for children ages 5 and up. At the conclusion of each visit, all of the equipment will be cleaned and thoroughly sanitized for the next week’s activities.

Tied to Mobile Rec activities is “Spray Day.” With the opening of Cheney’s municipal pool uncertain, Parks and Recreation has created four opportunities for kids — and adults — to cool off once the summer heats up.

On July 8, July 15, Aug. 5 and Aug. 19 the Fire Department will hook up one of their trucks to a nearby fire hydrant and let people run around in the spray. There will also be opportunities to meet the firefighters and check out their equipment.

The popular Camp CASLO will take place this summer, albeit with a few changes. Child care is essential service under state COVID-19 measures, and can take place before counties move into Phase 3 of reopening guidelines.

McGinley-Ashe said the camp, which began July 6 and runs through Aug. 21 in sessions, will be observing all of the required social distancing measures, and all staff and camp attendees will wear masks when indoors or in outdoor situations where social distancing may be difficult. As such, all field trips and pool visits have been canceled.

McGinley-Ashe said whereas in the past they have held camp in two different age groups, this year they will do so with four. Breakfast and morning and afternoon snacks will be provided, with camp occupancy limited to 40 children.

“We’re not full right now so we can take some more,” she said.

Camp CASLO sign up can be done online, with fees payable in advance.

The department is also holding the popular concerts and movies at the Gazebo in Sutton Park. Movies take place each Friday night at dusk from July 17 – Aug. 14. Concerts are each Wednesday from 6:30 – 8 p.m. from July 15 – Aug. 19, with the exception of the July 22 performance by the Lilac City Band which has been canceled.

McGinley-Ashe said they won’t be selling concessions this year at either event. Cones will be set up and spaced according to social distancing requirements, with families and individuals setting up at the cones to enjoy the shows.

As for the pool, McGinley-Ashe and City Administrator Mark Schuller said its opening is uncertain. Pools are not allowed to open until Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan — with Spokane County currently in Phase 2.

Part of the state’s phased reopening requires counties to meet disease activity metrics of fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 population over a 14-day period prior to applying to move up, flat or decreasing rates of hospitalization and virus person-to-person transmittal of less than one.

According to state Department of Health information, as of June 30, Spokane County was running 84.6 new cases per 100,000 with increasing hospitalizations and a person-to-person transmission rate above one.

“I want to wait a week or so to see if the trend on positive cases changes,” Schuller said in June 29 email. “If it keeps going in the direction it’s headed right now, I doubt the Governor/Secretary of Health will approve us to move to phase 3 anytime soon.”

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.