Fireworks July 4 In Winona; Parks Reopening This Weekend
June 11, 2020 at 2:22 a.m.
Fireworks July 4 In Winona; Parks Reopening This Weekend
By David [email protected]
The 10 p.m. fireworks over the lake will be preceded by an 8 p.m. concert, though social distancing and other safety precautions will be practiced.
Allebach began his remarks as this week’s guest panelist by stating, “We are on track to start to reopen some things. Next week, related to meetings, we are still doing virtual meetings. We’ll probably start to do some experimenting with a hybrid of virtual and in-person.”
Town offices are currently by appointment only, but Allebach said they are scheduled to be open to the public around July 4th.
“Related to parks, and that’s probably the biggest reason why I am here this morning, we have been following the schedule of the governor related to playgrounds and the CDC guidelines,” he said. “We did open things a little bit last time.”
The playgrounds were scheduled to reopen at the start of phase 3, but that was pushed back by Gov. Eric Holcomb until phase 4, June 14.
Wednesday afternoon, after the local press briefing, Holcomb announced he was moving phase 4 up two days to Friday.
“A lot of things go into play when you talk about opening playgrounds. I know the CDC has put out information related to playgrounds,” Allebach said.
Some of the do’s and don’ts include visiting parks close to home, check with parks to make sure it’s safe beforehand, find out if bathroom facilities are available, stay at least 6 feet from others and help children to follow the rules, too.
“Don’t visit the parks if you have COVID-19 or you were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19. And then also, as our parks get crowded, and this has probably been one of our biggest concerns that we’ve seen crowds and once the playgrounds open, that those will increase even moreso,” Allebach said.
As for Winona Lake Park’s restrooms, he said they opened one about 10 days ago, and the older restrooms opened about a week ago. Allebach said he hoped by the end of Wednesday they’d have the other restrooms open. There were air driers in the bathrooms, but since those weren’t “very good” for COVID-19, they were replaced with motion-sensored towel dispensers.
Basketball courts will open under phase 4.
On July 4, the Splash Pad is scheduled to open. Traditionally, it’s been opened until Labor Day but that might be extended.
“Any of these plans that I’m stating could change,” Allebach reminded everyone.
The park and greenway system have always been open so people can get their exercise, and Allebach said people have been making use of them. More people have been using the mountain bike trails, and Allebach said there are guidelines for those trails and those guidelines are posted.
Zagster, the bicycle share program, was terminated because the company went out of business. Allebach said they are working with the Ride+Walk Committee on how to replace that program.
“On a positive note, we did receive word around that same time also that Warsaw and Winona Lake received a bronze designation for bicycle friendly community again. It was renewed, and a lot of hard work has gone into that with the Ride+Walk Committee,” Allebach said.
The Fourth of July activities were next on his list of items to talk about.
“We usually have quite a celebration in Winona Lake, and a lot of that occurs around events in the town park, Limitless Park, as well as parades and things like that. Those events will not occur this year. However, the committee got together near the end of last month, discussing about whether we would move ahead with July 4th fireworks, and we felt we could do this. Again, a lot of it would be subject to change, but the committee decided to move ahead with the scheduling of fireworks for July 4th. So as I sit here today, I’m excited to announce, if you didn’t know already, that we are still on track for fireworks on July 4th at approximately 10 o’clock,” Allebach said.
Signs will be posted to remind people of social distancing. Winona Lake is working on a live feed to show the fireworks to provide an avenue for those who shouldn’t be out to watch the fireworks. Allebach said they’re in conversation with the fairgrounds about the grandstands as people have gone there in the past to watch the fireworks over Winona Lake.
“That’s kind of the latest on the July 4th fireworks plan. Again, very fluid situations and we’re very excited and hopefully confident that we can pull this off, but, again, we always need the public’s cooperation in wearing masks and social distancing and following best practices,” Allebach said.
The patriotic concert is at 8 p.m. July 4. The tent will be bigger and the orchestra and seating will be “practicing social distancing,” he said.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, earlier in the briefing, noted playgrounds and beaches are tentatively scheduled to open in stage 4, June 14, “subject to any potential last-minute changes the governor, State Department of Health” make.
“We know that those are areas that social gatherings can potentially be abused, if you will. We’re just asking that folks try and use a little bit of discretion. When they’re at the parks, at the beach, try and maintain their social distancing,” Thallemer said.
He reminded everyone that playgrounds were originally scheduled to reopen in phase 3, but Holcomb took them off the list. “We’re hoping that won’t happen again, but I want everybody to be mindful of what we’re looking at here,” Thallemer said.
Later, Allebach said an issue in Winona Lake is that its beach is a lot smaller than Warsaw’s. “So it’s pretty hard to get a lot of good social distancing on the small, sandy areas we have. Even Warsaw has a little bigger area, but still, when you put an influx of people on a 90-degree day, there just isn’t enough beach for everybody,” Allebach said. “So the beaches will always be a challenge, especially in our community.”
In the last few years, Warsaw and Winona Lake have had difficulties getting lifeguards for its public beaches. This year, there will no lifeguards at any beach.
“At this point, we aren’t going to be having lifeguards. You’ll be swimming at your own risk,” Allebach said. “Some of the issues of lifeguards is that, lifeguards traditionally we’ve hired earlier in the season have already found jobs and then the other thing is, we can’t possibly control that.”
The third problem, he said, is that people may try to get lifeguards to be social distancing police.
Because of the shortness of the season, by the time the beaches are open, the lifeguards wouldn’t have too much time to work before they had to head back to school, Allebach said.
Thallemer said Warsaw has had difficulty finding lifeguards and like the sign says, swimmers will swim at their own risk. “Again, that underscores the importance of taking responsibility, keep watch on your kids when they’re in the water and do that social distancing that’s required with social gatherings at this point. But we, again, plan on no lifeguards this year. It’s all swim at your own risk,” Thallemer said.
Allebach said recertifications for lifeguards also haven’t taken place this year because of the pandemic.
Thallemer said he talked to Grace College President Dr. Bill Katip Wednesday morning. Grace announced that the college has altered its fall schedule and will start classes Aug. 19 and finish the semester on the Friday before Thanksgiving. There will be no breaks. “That is their plan now,” Thallemer said, and noted everything is “subject to change.”
The 10 p.m. fireworks over the lake will be preceded by an 8 p.m. concert, though social distancing and other safety precautions will be practiced.
Allebach began his remarks as this week’s guest panelist by stating, “We are on track to start to reopen some things. Next week, related to meetings, we are still doing virtual meetings. We’ll probably start to do some experimenting with a hybrid of virtual and in-person.”
Town offices are currently by appointment only, but Allebach said they are scheduled to be open to the public around July 4th.
“Related to parks, and that’s probably the biggest reason why I am here this morning, we have been following the schedule of the governor related to playgrounds and the CDC guidelines,” he said. “We did open things a little bit last time.”
The playgrounds were scheduled to reopen at the start of phase 3, but that was pushed back by Gov. Eric Holcomb until phase 4, June 14.
Wednesday afternoon, after the local press briefing, Holcomb announced he was moving phase 4 up two days to Friday.
“A lot of things go into play when you talk about opening playgrounds. I know the CDC has put out information related to playgrounds,” Allebach said.
Some of the do’s and don’ts include visiting parks close to home, check with parks to make sure it’s safe beforehand, find out if bathroom facilities are available, stay at least 6 feet from others and help children to follow the rules, too.
“Don’t visit the parks if you have COVID-19 or you were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19. And then also, as our parks get crowded, and this has probably been one of our biggest concerns that we’ve seen crowds and once the playgrounds open, that those will increase even moreso,” Allebach said.
As for Winona Lake Park’s restrooms, he said they opened one about 10 days ago, and the older restrooms opened about a week ago. Allebach said he hoped by the end of Wednesday they’d have the other restrooms open. There were air driers in the bathrooms, but since those weren’t “very good” for COVID-19, they were replaced with motion-sensored towel dispensers.
Basketball courts will open under phase 4.
On July 4, the Splash Pad is scheduled to open. Traditionally, it’s been opened until Labor Day but that might be extended.
“Any of these plans that I’m stating could change,” Allebach reminded everyone.
The park and greenway system have always been open so people can get their exercise, and Allebach said people have been making use of them. More people have been using the mountain bike trails, and Allebach said there are guidelines for those trails and those guidelines are posted.
Zagster, the bicycle share program, was terminated because the company went out of business. Allebach said they are working with the Ride+Walk Committee on how to replace that program.
“On a positive note, we did receive word around that same time also that Warsaw and Winona Lake received a bronze designation for bicycle friendly community again. It was renewed, and a lot of hard work has gone into that with the Ride+Walk Committee,” Allebach said.
The Fourth of July activities were next on his list of items to talk about.
“We usually have quite a celebration in Winona Lake, and a lot of that occurs around events in the town park, Limitless Park, as well as parades and things like that. Those events will not occur this year. However, the committee got together near the end of last month, discussing about whether we would move ahead with July 4th fireworks, and we felt we could do this. Again, a lot of it would be subject to change, but the committee decided to move ahead with the scheduling of fireworks for July 4th. So as I sit here today, I’m excited to announce, if you didn’t know already, that we are still on track for fireworks on July 4th at approximately 10 o’clock,” Allebach said.
Signs will be posted to remind people of social distancing. Winona Lake is working on a live feed to show the fireworks to provide an avenue for those who shouldn’t be out to watch the fireworks. Allebach said they’re in conversation with the fairgrounds about the grandstands as people have gone there in the past to watch the fireworks over Winona Lake.
“That’s kind of the latest on the July 4th fireworks plan. Again, very fluid situations and we’re very excited and hopefully confident that we can pull this off, but, again, we always need the public’s cooperation in wearing masks and social distancing and following best practices,” Allebach said.
The patriotic concert is at 8 p.m. July 4. The tent will be bigger and the orchestra and seating will be “practicing social distancing,” he said.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, earlier in the briefing, noted playgrounds and beaches are tentatively scheduled to open in stage 4, June 14, “subject to any potential last-minute changes the governor, State Department of Health” make.
“We know that those are areas that social gatherings can potentially be abused, if you will. We’re just asking that folks try and use a little bit of discretion. When they’re at the parks, at the beach, try and maintain their social distancing,” Thallemer said.
He reminded everyone that playgrounds were originally scheduled to reopen in phase 3, but Holcomb took them off the list. “We’re hoping that won’t happen again, but I want everybody to be mindful of what we’re looking at here,” Thallemer said.
Later, Allebach said an issue in Winona Lake is that its beach is a lot smaller than Warsaw’s. “So it’s pretty hard to get a lot of good social distancing on the small, sandy areas we have. Even Warsaw has a little bigger area, but still, when you put an influx of people on a 90-degree day, there just isn’t enough beach for everybody,” Allebach said. “So the beaches will always be a challenge, especially in our community.”
In the last few years, Warsaw and Winona Lake have had difficulties getting lifeguards for its public beaches. This year, there will no lifeguards at any beach.
“At this point, we aren’t going to be having lifeguards. You’ll be swimming at your own risk,” Allebach said. “Some of the issues of lifeguards is that, lifeguards traditionally we’ve hired earlier in the season have already found jobs and then the other thing is, we can’t possibly control that.”
The third problem, he said, is that people may try to get lifeguards to be social distancing police.
Because of the shortness of the season, by the time the beaches are open, the lifeguards wouldn’t have too much time to work before they had to head back to school, Allebach said.
Thallemer said Warsaw has had difficulty finding lifeguards and like the sign says, swimmers will swim at their own risk. “Again, that underscores the importance of taking responsibility, keep watch on your kids when they’re in the water and do that social distancing that’s required with social gatherings at this point. But we, again, plan on no lifeguards this year. It’s all swim at your own risk,” Thallemer said.
Allebach said recertifications for lifeguards also haven’t taken place this year because of the pandemic.
Thallemer said he talked to Grace College President Dr. Bill Katip Wednesday morning. Grace announced that the college has altered its fall schedule and will start classes Aug. 19 and finish the semester on the Friday before Thanksgiving. There will be no breaks. “That is their plan now,” Thallemer said, and noted everything is “subject to change.”
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