Oglesby parks to be opened after all

Oglesby’s mayor has changed his mind and decided to open city parks on a limited basis.

Mayor Dom Rivara announced Thursday that city parks would, effective immediately, be open to the public. There are infection-control restrictions in place: visitors must observe 6-feet social distancing and there are to be no groups of 10 or more.

“The police will be monitoring these areas,” Rivara wrote on a Facebook posting. “If the proper guidelines are not followed, the Commissioner of Public Property will close the parks if necessary.”

The walking track at McPhedran Park, the canoe landing, all of the green spaces and the tennis courts will be open. Fishing at McPhedran Park is now allowed.

The playgrounds, ballparks, basketball courts, the dock at McPhedran, shelters, stages, benches and picnic tables will remain closed at this time.

Also, the burn ban is being lifted to allow for recreational fires and fire pits in addition to the use of gas, charcoal or smoker grills. There is, however, to be no burning of yard waste (grass and leaves), and the burning of garbage is never allowed.

That was a reversal from Monday’s city council meeting, when commissioner Jim Cullinan argued for reopening parks during the pandemic. Rivara balked, but also pledged to revisit a phased-in opening later this month.

“We’ve got to do it smart. We’ve got to do it slow and have a plan,” he said then. “And if we run into a hiccup, how do we address it?"