Park Department closes playgrounds until further notice

The Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department, with urging from local emergency personnel, has closed the playgrounds in its parks effective immediately.

Trails and open areas in the parks remain open.

“We’re not closing the parks ... just the playgrounds,” said Parks and Recreation Department Director Lanny Corcimiglia Tuesday morning.

Early Tuesday, maintenance crews began surrounding each of the city’s public playgrounds with caution tape so potential visitors would know about the closures.

“We’ve been working with the Butler County EMA and health department and they’ve had concerns about the playgrounds still being open,” Corcimiglia said. “They think closing them would be better than keeping them open.”

For now, Corcimiglia said, the plan is to keep the playgrounds closed until further notice, and he will keep monitoring the situation.

“We’ll work with local officials week by week,” Corcimiglia said.

He does caution visitors that while the parks remain open and more residents have tended to go to the parks to temporarily get away from their homes, people still must adhere to CDC guidelines about social distancing for their own protection.