Sandpoint closes playgrounds, public restrooms

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint Parks and Recreation is closing its playgrounds effective tomorrow. The city has playgrounds at Travers, Lakeview and Hickory Street parks and City Beach.

“These measures are not being taken lightly,” Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad said in a press release announcing the move to follow Centers for Disease Control and Panhandle Health District guidelines for novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, for social distance and disinfection guidelines.

“We understand the impacts on parents trying to keep children busy and entertained,” Rognstad said. “It is a matter of public health and ensuring the safety for the community as a whole.”

Sandpoint officials also announced they were had closed the public restrooms at Jeff Jones Town Square, the Interpretive Center, and the Mickinnick trailhead. Portable restrooms also were removed.

“The health of the Sandpoint community is extremely important,” Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton said. “In order to keep everyone safe and stop the spread of the virus into our community — particularly by parks users coming from communities with a known COVID outbreak — we deemed this a necessary measure.”

Sandpoint recently launched an online form for businesses which have closed or plan to close to provide that information to the Sandpoint Police Department, which is increasing its security patrols at closure sites. The form is available at https://lf.sandpointidaho.gov/forms/BusinessCOVID-19. It can also be accessed in the City’s Engage Sandpoint mobile app, on the city’s Facebook Page and on its website, sandpointidaho.gov.

Stapleton and Rognstad said the form also asks businesses to let city officials know if they are providing takeout/delivery service, and/or take phone or online orders. The city will be launching an online directory of this information in coming days.

As of Monday afternoon, Sandpoint officials said they believe there is nearly 100% voluntary closure of the restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in Sandpoint — if not the full 100%.

“We would like to again recognize the responsible, proactive, but difficult decisions the owners have made this week to protect their employees and the broader community,” Rognstad said.

City officials and their public health partners continue to strongly encourage service businesses who cannot maintain the recommended social distancing to also close in the coming days. This includes hair salons and barber shops, fitness centers and personal treatment services.

“I know that these actions cause significant hardship and heartache for people, but they are necessary to save lives,” Rognstad said.