Dane County Parks - Updates with COVID-19
Hello from Dane County Parks,
We wanted to check in with you, our Friends and Partner Groups, to keep you informed on what Dane County Park staff are doing during this situation. Please share this information with others.
Our parks are presently open to the public and are important places for our community right now. Our parks are an important part of our healthcare system allowing visitors to socially disperse, exercise, and get away from the stresses they are dealing with and recharge in nature. Our job right now is to make sure that visitors can safely use our parks.
The Dane County Parks are great areas for people to use as long as they use social distancing (Min. 6’ distance) and use some basic precautions. The one thing that we need to make sure that everyone is aware of we are operating under very limited staffing and resources at the present time. We do not have staff out cleaning and disinfecting facilities or common touch sites. What are common touch sites. These are any areas where many people may be touching the same location. Examples of this include: gates, handles, pay station or permit collection areas, dog bag dispensers, play equipment, tables and other amenities. Right now there are not to many of these sites in the county parks, however, we do have some such as the Dog Parks with the gated entry. So what do you do in this situation – use a gloved hand, use an elbow to open or push it open, have hand sanitizer or wipes to clean the surface or keep you from touching them.
- Social Distancing – Maintain 6’ distance from other users - The virus comes from the lungs and is spread through coughing on to people or surfaces for up to 72 hours.
- Protecting Self – You may still use these parks sites but visitors need to take precautions wear gloves, use a covered elbow to open a gate or handle, have disinfectant wipes or an alcohol hand wash. We have attached some signage that you will see posted in our park properties as a reminder that users need to think before the reach, touch and handle common use items within the parks.
Dane County Parks Updates:
www.danecountyparks.com/COVID19
Per the mandatory guidelines, Dane County Land & Water Resources Department – Parks Division has cancelled all sponsored events through May 1, 2020. We suggest the Friends and Partner groups do the same and update your websites and social media to inform the public on the status of these events.
Helpful Links:
Our highest priority is the health and well-being of our staff, volunteers and the public during the rapidly evolving health concern of the Coronavirus/COVID-19. Our department is closely following guidelines from the Department of Health Services (DHS), the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Be well,
Rhea Stangel-Maier, Volunteer Coordinator
Dane County Parks
4318 Robertson Road
Madison WI 53718
www.danecountyparks.com