What you can (and still can’t) do come Saturday in Boise parks, playgrounds, libraries
Boise will move into Stage 3 of its COVID-19 reopening plan on Saturday along with the state of Idaho, and several outdoor spaces will open once again.
The city continues to go one step further than the state in some requirements. Social distancing of 6 feet is recommended by the state but required by the city. But for the most part, Boise and Idaho continue to move together.
“We must understand that we are not out of the woods yet, and this virus continues to pose a very serious health risk to us all,” Mayor Lauren McLean said in a news release Thursday. “We, as a city, are carefully balancing public health with the reopening of our community. I continue to urge our residents to be vigilant about how we safely re-open our businesses and community, so we don’t lose ground on our shared gains.”
The Boise Airport
The airport will still be limited only to ticketed passengers and those helping them.
Gathering to pick up a passenger is not permitted, but drivers are allowed to wait for passengers arriving from their cars. Drivers are also allowed to drop people off. People accompanying passengers who need help with arrival or departure are also allowed in the airport.
Gatherings
Group gatherings will be limited to 50 people or fewer, an increase from Stage 2, where groups up to 10 were allowed. Permits will be issued for gatherings in Boise event spaces only for events with 50 or fewer people.
Activities for kids
Boise Parks and Recreation play camps will begin on Monday, June, 1 for children ages 6 to 12. Youth sports leagues can practice on the city’s outdoor fields once health and safety protocols are submitted to the city.
Playgrounds will reopen, although the mayor said during a Facebook Live session on Thursday that visitors should respect social distancing.
“You might even consider, just as you would at a picnic table or anywhere else, carrying wipes with you,” she said.
Outdoor spaces
Park bathrooms will reopen across the city, and skaters can visit Rhodes Skate Park once again.
Limited clubhouse services will be available at the Quail Hollow and Warm Springs golf courses. (Parks have remained open so far, with people encouraged to maintain a proper distance from others not in their households.)
People will continue to be able to visit tennis courts, make reservations at park shelters, take their dogs to fenced dog parks and surge at the Boise Whitewater Park, all of which opened in Stage 2.
Public pools will not reopen this summer, although the state has issued guidance to help cut down on the potential spread of the virus for other pools, splash parks and water parks.
Dining out and entertainment
As in the rest of the state, bars will reopen as long as protocols are in place to maintain 6 feet among employees and patrons. The same requirements apply to wineries, breweries and distilleries. The state recommends food and drinks be served at tables rather than bars.
Restaurants were able to open with similar rules in Stage 2, although some are still offering only carry-out service.
McLean said in her Facebook Live that a date will be announced next week for the closure of 8th Street to cars, a move that would allow restaurants to extend their patios so patrons can social distance while dining out.
City services
Parking: Enforcement of on-street parking downtown will start again in Zones 1 and 2 — most of the areas between 5th and 11th streets and from West Jefferson Street to Myrtle Street. Zone 3, which is much of downtown beyond that the aforementioned zones, will remain free.
Library: City library services will also expand. Previously, people could pick up books through curbside delivery only from 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, with drop boxes open at the same time. In Stage 3, pickup times at every library location will be extended from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday as well as 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The book drop will be open seven days a week at all locations.
Access to the inside of library buildings is still mostly prohibited, but people can make 45-minute computer appointments at the main library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd., on weekdays. Those looking to register for appointments can visit BoisePublicLibrary.org/Computers or call 208-972-8255.
Meetings: The City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission will begin to hold hybrid meetings, offering people the opportunity to attend in person or remotely. The design review and historic preservation commissions will both continue to meet remotely.
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