Wave Staff Report
WEST HOLLYWOOD — City Manager Paul Arevalo has issued an emergency executive order allowing the limited reopening of West Hollywood and Plummer parks via an online park space reservation system only.
Reservations are available in the Vista Lawn and Fuller Lawn areas at Plummer Park and in the Great Lawn area at West Hollywood Park. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Numbered spaces will be outlined in the grass and city staff will be available to assist users with finding their spaces.
Individuals can book a space for a two-hour block between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. There is no cost to reserve a park space.
The limited reopening order is aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of community members. The parks were previously closed July 23 following numerous reports by city staff and deputies from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station that park visitors were not complying with park rules adopted to curb the spread of COVID-19.
At the time of the park closures, approximately 50 percent of park users failed to comply with the city’s face covering requirements and social (physical) distancing protocols and altered and/or destroyed protective barriers intended to keep playgrounds and basketball courts closed.
Currently, neighborhood parks and dog parks at West Hollywood Park and William S. Hart Dog Park remain open, subject to park users’ compliance with face covering and social distancing requirements. Park patrons are subject to administrative citation for not v using face coverings.
Tennis courts at West Hollywood Park and Plummer Park also remain open. As with dog parks, city staff and sheriff’s personnel will closely monitor adherence to requirements. Tennis players not adhering to health and safety protocols are subject to administrative citation as well as a one-year suspension of iTennis membership and court reservation privileges.
The continued availability of tennis courts at West Hollywood Park and Plummer Park is dependent upon players following standards established to be consistent with safe-play practices issued by the United States Tennis Association, the International Tennis Federation, and the U.S. Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). Details are available at www.weho.org/tennis.
Parks, dog parks and tennis courts are subject to closure should users continue to disregard health and safety protocols, despite signage, education and enforcement efforts.
Visitors at Plummer Park and West Hollywood Park may use the park only in the reserved space. At all other parks, physical distancing of six feet between groups that are not part of the same household is required. Park visitors are asked to avoid crowded areas.
Organized activities and group fitness classes, yoga instruction, dog training and personal training sessions are not permitted in any city parks.
Water fountains and bathrooms remain closed. Residents are encouraged to bring water from home.
Visitors are asked to leave park areas clean and remove all personal
items and trash before leaving park.
Playground and exercise equipment also remain closed.
