While many facilities in and around Sedona have closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak, some remain open.
One of those facilities is the Jack Malmgren Memorial Skate Park, which is being kept open, albeit under a closer watch.
“The skatepark and dog parks are currently still open,” Sedona Parks and Recreation Manager Steve Richardson said, “We are monitoring these facilities [as well as the others that remain open] within our parks and if we do see issues with overcrowding or not practicing social distancing, we will unfortunately be forced to shut them down.”
In addition to the skate and dog parks, the facilities that remain open are the ball and multi-use fields, bike park, sand volleyball court and the fitness trail and exercise equipment [sanitation before and after use is recommended].
Richardson also said that if the community wants facilities such as the skate park to remain open, people who use them should maintain a six-foot distance from each other, avoid overcrowding, constantly wash their hands, bring and use hand sanitizer and avoid touching their faces.
The news that the skate park would remain open was greeted with excitement by those who use it, who were previously unsure.
“It’s really important that we’re actually able to get our energy out,” said Tyler Drew, who also noted that maintaining social distance was not likely to be a problem. “Typically you’re not standing right next to someone. Usually you’re just pumping around. You’re not really stopping and congregating. You’re just doing your thing.”
That opinion was shared by 13-year-old Kai Chorlton.
“I feel like skateboarding is good because there’s no contact unless you make it,” Chorlton said. “But if you really don’t want to you don’t have to come in contact with people.”
Dylan Beattie, a senior at Sedona Red Rock High School, added that the skate park is not only fun for him, but also a good, safe place to go and escape the COVID-19 dominated news cycle.
“It’s really relieving,” Beattie said. “It’s something you can do, have fun with your friends and helps you calm down from everything else that’s going on. It’s more stress free. It’s a nice community here with all of the locals that come here. We all get along great.”
