![Cleveland kept playgrounds closed into the fall of 2020, after many suburbs had reopened theirs. [Justin Glanville / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9e3a69c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1000x750+0+0/resize/840x630!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F3%2F11%2Fplayground%20sign.jpg)
The city of Cleveland is planning to restart recreation programs, including reopening pools. Spring and summer sports leagues will also start again as vaccinations speed up and the rate of new infections has dropped.
Public Works Director Michael Cox said during a Thursday press conference that city pools will reopen June 12, five days a week from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“We’re going to open all 20 of our outdoor pools,” Cox said. “There will be limitations on how many people we can get into the pool.”
He added, when the temperature goes above 85 degrees, pools will open 7 days a week. Every 45 minutes, the pool will close for sanitizing.
Cox added that city basketball and tennis courts and playgrounds will be reopened during the summer, with signage on CDC guidelines for masks and social distancing.
“Kids were on playgrounds anyway last summer,” Cox said. “But we want to make sure they’re safe and we’re going to put signage up to tell parents, to make sure they’re doing the right thing when they’re around the playground.”
The city will also start issuing permits for little league, softball leagues and others to start using fields again.
“We will have our people checking to make sure the guidelines are followed,” Cox said.
The city is also planning to expand its “grab-and-go” summer lunchtime program from recreation centers to include seven playgrounds.
Officials are still considering whether to issue permits for large summertime events and festivals.
