The City of Lake City’s decision to keep city park playgrounds locked down is a good example of government gone wrong.
We say: Let the children play. And while you’re at it, open the basketball courts, tennis courts and racquetball courts. Encourage all outdoor sports at all city facilities that see the youth and adults of this community get active.
Wake up, city government. It’s time to open up and return to normal.
When the governor last week OK’d the reopening of outdoor public recreational facilities and all summer camp activities for children in Florida, we fully expected to feel the benefit throughout Columbia County. It was truly a shining moment for Florida children who have literally been trapped in isolation out of school at home for nine weeks.
County government followed through and flipped the switch on its parks, trails, playgrounds and sports complexes, but City Hall chose its own direction to keep playgrounds and summer camps within city limits — the Boys and Girls Clubs — closed.
City Manager Joe Helfenberger expressed concern for children’s health as his reason for canceling all summer programs in the city, using the example it was unsafe for students to attend school, therefore it was unsafe to attend summer activities.
School’s out for the summer. The governor has noted Florida’s non-existent covid-19 statistics involving children. The CDC has noted the virus cannot live in sunlight, on playground equipment in this instance, and new research shows is rarely transferrable on hard surfaces. Once the governor, with input from top state health officials, deemed it safe to reopen such programs, the matter should have been decided. Private daycare centers stayed open and battled through the worst of the pandemic scare. Why is the city dragging around now that it has passed?
The Boys Club and Girls Club serve a need in our community. They serve working families. They provide an outlet a few days per week where children can have healthy engagement in safe and organized activities. Children, now more than ever, need interaction with other children. This is quite possibly the most important summer for summer camps in history.
City playgrounds, ball courts, grass fields and public open spaces serve a very important group of young people that may not have access to any other recreation this summer — those children less fortunate than many.
Many of these children can’t afford electronic devices to keep them occupied in the house. They don’t sit around looking at screens. Also, because of where they live, these kids must walk to a park and the only facilities close by are city facilities.
Mr. Helfenberger’s intentions may be good, but keeping these facilities closed is difficult to justify. The choice is not for the government to make in any case. Opening playgrounds is easy. There’s still time to reschedule and open summer camps.
Open all of it up and let the parents decide.