July 2020
Newsletter
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NEWS
Reopening Plan
The office at Stearns Gym is open 8:30-5 pm M-F. As of now, the gym is still closed to the public, as Phase 2 of the governor's reopening plan disallows gyms to reopen. We will update the guidelines upon the beginning of Phase 3, which is now projected to start on July 17. In the meantime, we are working with some of the people who use the facility the most to develop guidelines and expectations, as the space will be shared with the day camp.

Questions or comments? Please give us a call or send us an email.
The Polk Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Needs Your Teen's Input
Polk County received a grant to form a substance abuse prevention coalition, and we need data to back up our projects. Please have your 12-24 year old take the following anonymous surveys:

Thanks for your help!
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Pool Updates
Gibson Park Pool is OPEN! (with a few changes)

~We are limiting capacity to 30 max, with a 2.5 hour time limit. Please call before you leave for the pool to see if we are full: 828-894-6242.
~Group swim lessons will be offered once the Governor's Safer At Home Phase III begins. Several of our lifeguards offer private lessons, please call for more information.
~We will not be selling snacks or drinks. You may bring your own from home and consume them at one of our picnic tables.
~Pool guests will be screened for fever & other COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.
~Guests will be expected to seat themselves 6 ft apart from other families.
~Guests will be asked to sanitize the chairs they use before they leave with the provided disinfectant.
~Guests will be asked to wear masks when the are not actively swimming, eating, or drinking.
~We will be open for lap swim 9:30am-11:30am Tuesday-Saturday, and to the public 12pm-5pm Tuesday-Friday & 1-5 Sunday THROUGH JULY 20, at the earliest. Once group swim lessons start up, the hours will be updated.
Click here to go to the pool programs website.
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Sports Updates
Soccer registration will be open next week! We will be taking several precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including screening for fever and other symptoms in players and coaches upon arrival, spacing out players during practices, and eliminating the post-season tournament. There will be more info to come next week!
In the meantime, please continue to practice safe measures to protect yourself and loved ones! We miss you all!!!

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Stay Updated about Polk Trails!
Trail Workdays
Phase 2 of NC reopening allows for volunteering, so Neal will be holding Trail Work Days at the Recreation Complex on the Tuesdays and Thursdays in July:
July 7 & 9
July 14 & 16
July 21 & 23
Please call Neal if you have any questions or if you would like to help: 828-808-6928. They might change the location as needed to help other trail groups, so PLEASE CALL Neal first!
If you have your own tools, please bring them so we do not have to share equipment.

Let us know how you are safely staying active on our Trails Facebook page!
July Trails E-Meeting Notes
  • A few members joined in person at Laura's house in Sunny View, and others joined virtually. Thanks for being flexible in these strange times!
  • Rec Complex Trail: most of the remaining work is cleaning up the edges and adding some alternate routes to some of the more challenging sections. Please call Neal if you would like to help. The campers are using the trail regularly, and are working on coming up with some names for the first loop. We will be working on markers, etc.
  • Alexander's Ford: There has been an official recommendation from the Recreation Advisory Board to fix the muddy spots to make the original section more resilient and then allow horseback riding on that section only (not the new trail). They also recommend asking equestrian users to use a manure catcher bag and to wait 48 hours after a major rain event to ride.
  • Green River Trails: Several parts need repair. Neal is looking into work days and contacting the Carolina Mt. Club to discuss what's needed.
  • Tom Raymond/ICC Loop: The Polk County Library has added a "Story Trail" to the hiking path. Come check it out!
  • SCLT: Use of the Saluda Nature Park is discouraged while the environmental concerns are cleared up. Workdays are being organized for various trails in the area, including Judd's Peak and Lazy Girl. Contact Chuck Hearon if you are interested in helping: chearon@skyrunner.net
  • Woodland Park: The trail is in good shape with a few water issues. The Tryon Parks/Trails committee will be contacted for followup.
  • Green River Gamelands Trails: the bathroom facilities and the Big Bradley Falls trail are closed but the other trails are open.
  • If you are a trail steward or otherwise in charge of a Polk County Trail, please come by Stearns Gym to pick up a sign alerting users to ticks on the trail to post on the trailhead.
  • The next trails meeting is Monday, July 27 at Saluda Outfitters. We will also have a virtual join-in opportunity. Stay tuned for a reminder email.
Polk County Parks and Recreation | recreation@polknc.org | 828.894.8199 | Visit our website
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