By MADDY VITALE
Gov. Phil Murphy announced on June 23 that playgrounds could reopen Thursday after a three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And Sea Isle City is ready to offer children and their families enjoyment once again at the three playgrounds in the resort, one on JFK Boulevard and the others at Dealy Field and 85th Street.
“Our playgrounds are ready to be used,” said the city’s Public Information Officer Katherine Custer.
And all three playgrounds provide upgraded, newer equipment and surfacing.
A spongy, rubber surface to provide a nice, safe cushion for the kids was recently installed at the John F. Kennedy Boulevard playground.
“This is one of the many efforts that the city undertakes to maintain a level of safety. We are a family-friendly community and we want to ensure that our youngest visitors and residents can enjoy themselves in a safe environment,” Custer said in an April article with SeaIsleNews.com.
The playground at 85th Street, located on the beachfront in the Townsends Inlet section, received new playground equipment, an upgraded pavilion, new picnic tables and new park benches in a 2018 project.
All three playgrounds have a host of slides, swings, “animals” to hop on for rides and other equipment for safe, family fun, Custer noted.
With safety guidelines in place in an effort to lessen the spread of the coronavirus, Custer explained that all precautions have been taken by the city to protect the public.
“We will be posting signs to remind people to use social distancing and wear masks when they can’t social distance,” she added.
And it has been a while since children could spend time playing in the popular attractions at the city’s three playgrounds.
“We are confident that families are eager to see the playgrounds reopen,” Custer pointed out. “However, we respectfully want to remind all parents that social distancing is necessary.”
At the same time that the governor announced that the playgrounds would be allowed to reopen, he also told the public that amusements, water parks and arcades could also once again open their doors starting Thursday.
Custer said the opening of the playgrounds is exciting for so many parents and children who spend time at the attractions.
She also wants the reopening to provide a message to Murphy.
“We want to show the governor that here in Sea Isle City, we know how to follow his directive because we want to open our facilities.”
