While golf courses across the country ponder whether to shut their doors to players, one Florida town has re-opened a local course a week after it closed.
In a 6-1 vote on Monday, the city commissioners of Lakeland, Florida, voted to reopen several parks and recreational facilities, including Cleveland Heights Golf Course, beginning Thursday after closing for a week because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner Stephanie Madden made the motion to reopen city facilities, citing congestion along popular walking and biking paths. Commissioner Sarah Roberts McCarley was the sole vote of dissent.
“I’m happy to have the trails open so people can walk,” said McCarley on Monday, before expressing concern about reopening the Beerman Family Tennis Center and Cleveland Heights.
Lakeland playgrounds, basketball courts and bathrooms will remain closed.
Attorney Tim Darby, chairman of a local 4ball and organizer of the Cleveland Heights support group “Save the Heights 27,” said he saw both sides to the issue but ultimately agreed with the commission’s decision.
“I trust the City Commission,” Darby said. “And I understand that people are concerned, and I’m not an expert on infectious disease. With Cleveland Heights and other city parks closing, we are putting people in a tighter space. Cleveland Heights was one of only a couple golf courses in the county that were shut down because golf is a pretty safe activity. If it comes down that it is not a safe activity or the commission closes it again, I will respect it.”
On social media, the commission’s decision drew mixed reactions, with many expressing frustration about the timing of the decision as the number of Floridian and Polk County cases of COVID-19 continue to grow. State health officials announced the county’s first death from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday as Polk’s confirmed cases climbed to 77.
“I’m disappointed in the decision to reopen the parks, because we need to focus on serious social distancing right now,” said Cindy Walsh Sternlicht via Facebook. “We’re still on the front end of the curve, and the evidence shows that stay at home directives help flatten it. Our City and County leaders need to take a stand, in the absence of State leadership.”