Parks & Recreation will close the Main Library, Larry Jackson Branch Library, eLibrary, Simpson Park Community Center, Kelly Recreation Complex, Coleman-Bush Building, Gandy Pool, Lake Mirror Complex and the Splash Pad at Barnett Family Park the end of the day Tuesday, March 17th (today) in order to minimize the impacts from the COVID-19 virus. The facilities used as voting locations for the March 17th Presidential Primary elections will not be impacted. At the end of regular business hours on Tuesday, March 17th the listed facilities will close and remain closed for 30 days starting March 18th until further notice. Employees will use this time to perform business operations, routine maintenance and clean facilities. The rental office at the Lake Mirror Complex will be closed to walk-ins but will be available for phone (863/834-2280) or email correspondence ([email protected]).
Outdoor facilities including parks and playgrounds will remain open at this time. Even though staff is diligently disinfecting and cleaning surfaces, we ask that you use these facilities understanding the suggested safety considerations associated with the COVID-19 challenge. Please continue to follow the guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and the Florida Department of Health.
Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
The Center of Disease Control recommends that for the next eight weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. The President of the United States recently outlined that events should be limited to 10 people or less.
Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus.
The City of Lakeland will continue to monitor the situation and we will notify the community as issues develop. We ask that you continue to incorporate social distancing, practice good hygiene and if you are not feeling well – stay home. The City of Lakeland has developed a dedicated page on the COVID-19 virus and we ask that you monitor the site for the latest closings – www.lakelandgov.net/covid19. We also ask that you follow us on all the social media platforms, if you don’t follow us already. You can find the City of Lakeland on social media by searching @lakelandgov.