Brookhaven announces reopening plans for City Hall and parks facilities as COVID-19 prevention continues

Modifications to City Hall lobby include sneeze guards at both the receptionist’s desk and permits counter.

Brookhaven, GA, May 20, 2020 –Brookhaven plans to reopen City Hall and some parks facilities to the public on June 1, as the fight continues against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Utilizing an innovative split-shift office policy augmented by teleworking, City Hall and parks employees will return to their on-site workspaces on May 26 to prepare for receiving the public on June 1.

“Surely one of the things we’ll always remember about 2020 is how we rose to the challenge of an unprecedented pandemic, came together as a community, and courageously forged ahead to fight the spread of this deadly virus,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst. “I am so proud of our residents for being responsible neighbors and sticking with social distancing and other health department recommendations as Brookhaven served as a model for other nearby jurisdictions.  I implore everyone to continue their vigilance.”

Adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and State and County health department guidelines, a lot of effort has gone into reopening City Hall and parks facilities, including:

  • Personal protection equipment (PPE) supplies, including masks, sanitizer, and gloves for all employees and visitors, have been secured for use.  Employees will be required to utilize PPE throughout their workday.
  • Space modifications have been made to the City Hall lobby including plexiglass windows at the permit counter and reception area.  Markings have been added on the lobby floor to denote six-foot intervals to ensure responsible social distancing.
  • Virtual meetings will be strongly encouraged, but all conference rooms and the City Council chambers have been reconfigured to ensure six-foot social distancing.
  • A free-standing hand sanitation station, donated by JetSouth LLC, has been positioned near the front of City Hall, with similar stations placed at various parks throughout the City.

As additional efforts move forward during the reopening process, other steps may be added in the weeks ahead to ensure the safety of City visitors and employees.

For the foreseeable future, the Brookhaven Police Department will remain closed to visitors. Municipal Court remains closed for now and reopening will be determined by the state court system.

The City’s phased-in approach to reopening parks and recreational facilities includes similar PPE use, hand sanitizing devices and social distancing.  The reopening schedule is as follows:

May 26:

  • Parks and Recreation employees return to regular office duties at recreation facilities

June 1:

  • Athletic fields for passive use only, and limited to activities for 10 or less
  • Skyland Small Dog Park with a limit of no more than 5 people
  • Skyland Large Dog Park with a limit of no more than 10 people
  • Brookhaven Dog Park, with a limit of no more than 20 people. (The City will develop a mechanism to monitor occupancy for all dog parks in advance of the opening date.)
  • Tennis courts (singles play only)

June 15:

  • The Ashford Park Community Building, for no more than 10 participants
  • Ashford Park Youth Camps of 10 or less
  • Gymnasiums for single player (no team or group activities).  Individuals wishing to play basketball must bring their own ball. 
  • Lynwood Park and Briarwood Recreation Centers
  • Recreation programs with groups no larger than 10.
  • Facility rentals (shelters, pavilions, meeting rooms, etc.) of less than 50
  • Tennis courts (doubles play)

July 1:

  • The Ashford Park Community Building, for more than 10 participants
  • Ashford Park Youth Camps of more than 10
  • Athletic fields for passive use only, to activities involving more than 10
  • Recreation programs with groups of more than 10
  • Outdoor basketball courts
  • Outdoor restrooms
  • Outdoor playgrounds
  • Facility rentals (shelters, pavilions, meeting rooms, etc.) of more than 50

August 1 (estimated):

  • Larger community events are expected to begin, with advance registration and without the use of shared items or supplies

To be determined:

  • Lynwood and Murphey Candler Park pools.  The pool at Briarwood remains under construction.
  • Open athletic field for organized play for City of Brookhaven-approved leagues.  This topic will be discussed at the May 26 regular City Council meeting

“The priority throughout the coronavirus pandemic has always been focused on the health and safety of our employees and our guests, which is why we have waited for the data from the Board of Health before implementing reopening plans,” noted Brookhaven City Manager Christian Sigman. “While City Hall has been closed, our work continued non-stop, with employees working remotely and contractors completing public works projects in the field while practicing social distancing.  I recognize this is a very fluid situation and guidance from the state and federal government is not always very clear. I ask that residents be patient and know we are willing to reevaluate our plans based on actual experience in the coming weeks and months.”

Brookhaven City Hall has been closed to the public since March 14 when a non-public facing employee was diagnosed with COVID-19. That employee has since recovered. Since that time, a number of popular Brookhaven events were cancelled to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the Cherry Blossom Festival, a variety of Easter celebrations and a number of resident/business interruptions including quarantine stay-at-home restrictions and suspension of dine-in services for all Brookhaven restaurants and alcohol-serving restaurants.

In recent weeks, executive orders from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp have begun to ease many of the statewide restrictions as officials track the number of new coronavirus cases throughout the state.      

 

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Modifications to City Hall lobby include sneeze guards at both the receptionist’s desk and permits counter.
Social distancing markers now appear on the lobby floor.