BALTIMORE, MD.  — Today, Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) announced the next phase of BCRP’s reopening plans for agency services, including pools, athletic courts, and playgrounds. Mayor Young issued the following statement:

“I am excited for Baltimore City Recreation and Parks to get back into the swing of things,” Mayor Young said. “While many of these services begin to restore and reopen, it is crucial that residents adhere to the new capacity limits, screening measures and guidelines put in place by BCRP to ensure the health and safety of users and staff.”

Many of the agency’s services were suspended due to COVID-19 – recreation centers and BCRP-operated sports/nature facilities were temporarily closed, special and park-permitted events were canceled, and city-owned athletic courts and playgrounds were secured from public use. As of Thursday, July 2, BCRP will readily restore, with modifications and new guidelines, the following services:

July:

• July 6
  • Bmore Summer Fun (ending August 14) and Carrie Murray Nature Camp (ending August 28) begin
  • Registration for pools opens
  • Restrictions lifted on various park permits including film, youth sports and ten-person outdoor weddings/photoshoots at Cylburn Arboretum and H.P. Rawlings Conservatory
• July 13
  • Basketball and bocce courts, park playgrounds and exercise equipment reopen
  • Clifton Park, Patterson Park, Riverside Park, Roosevelt Park and Cherry Hill pools open with reduced capacity and under new guidelines
• July 20
  • Ambrose Kennedy, William McAbee, Liberty, C.C. Jackson and O’Donnell pools open with reduced capacity and under new guidelines
  • Outdoor only Therapeutic Recreation programs begin (limited capacity)
  • Restrictions lifted on various park permits including private event, park weddings and adult sports

August:

• August 1
  • Cylburn Arboretum and H.P. Rawlings Conservatory restore outdoor wedding services for 50 people or more

September:

• September 1
  • Restrictions lift on special event permits (public events)
• September 7
  • 2020 Swim Season ends
• September 8
  • Cylburn Arboretum and H.P. Rawlings Conservatory open for indoor weddings (reduced capacity)

Skateparks and the Middle Branch Boathouse reopened on June 26.

The 2020 swim season will require a registration process that limits the number of pool users at each 90-minute swim session to 14 people, and walk-up registration is prohibited. Temperature checks and health screening questionnaires are required for all staff and attendees before entering the pool area. Additional guidelines, modifications, and reopening information can be found at bcrp.baltimorecity.gov.

“I am so proud of the BCRP staff for diligently coming together to address the needs of our residents who rely on our spaces and services,” said BCRP Executive Director Reginald Moore. “We have thoughtfully considered the health and safety of our users, staff, visitors and communities as we evaluated what amenities were safest to reopen now and in the future and will continue to do so as guidance continues to change and evolve.”

Recreation centers will not open for general use, and will continue to operate as meal sites until further notice. Nine recreation centers will serve as cooling centers on city-wide Code Red Days. City parks and trails remain open for use.

About Baltimore City Recreation & Parks

Baltimore City Recreation & Parks (BCRP) is Baltimore’s leading provider of affordable, year-round recreational activities. BCRP builds a stronger Baltimore one community at a time through conservation, well-being and social equity. BCRP manages and maintains 263 parks, 44 recreation centers, 25 miles of biking and hiking trails and approximately 4,700 acres of parkland. To learn more about our programs and services, visit their site.