Coronavirus Information | Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation

COVID-19 Information

Your health and safety are important to us. Below is information for Monon Community Center members, recreation programming participants, park users, Extended School Enrichment students, rentals and Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation staff.

Monon Community Center: CLOSED EFFECTIVE MARCH 16
Effective Monday, March 16 the Monon Community Center will close and remain closed until further notice. The closure is due to an abundance of caution and guidance from public health officials in order to protect the health and safety of our visitors and employees.

The closure includes all Monon Community Center amenities: Fitness Center, Indoor Aquatics, Gymnasium, KidZone, Indoor Track, Group Fitness Classes, Personal Training and private lessons. The closure will be assessed on a daily basis based on recommendations from public health officials.

While the Monon Community Center will re-open as soon as conditions warrant, the following programs are canceled through May 1, at which time cancelations and closure time will be reassessed and impacted parties will be notified:
- In accordance with Carmel Clay Schools, our before- and after-school program Extended School Enrichment is closed through the remainder of the school year.
- Recreation programming – canceled through Memorial Day
- Aquatic programs + swim lessons – canceled through Memorial Day
- Rentals – suspended until after April 12
- Group Fitness classes
  - Follow along with our virtual fitness offerings on our Facebook or YouTube channel.
- Volunteer and organized events (Hamilton County Homeschool Hoopla, Summer Hiring Event, Barrier-Free Theatre Performance, Swim Meet). – canceled through Memorial Day
Payment Processing

Monthly Memberships: Effective March 16, we are suspending all monthly payment charges until we are cleared by public health officials to re-open the Monon Community Center (MCC). Once the Monon Community Center resumes operations, we will extend your membership the full length of the closure (i.e. if your last payment was processed on March 13 and the MCC is closed for 14 days, your next bill will not process until at least April 27 or later).

Annual Memberships: However long the facility is closed, we will extend your membership past your current expiration date.

Cancelation Requests: You are still able to cancel your membership through the regular process at this time by submitting an online request; however, please keep in mind that if you cancel now and want to re-up later you will need to re-establish and setup your account and go through all of the new membership paperwork. We ask that you please use “Coronavirus Closure” as your reason for cancelation. If you decide to keep your membership and do not submit a cancelation request, we will automatically suspend the monthly payment charges until we are cleared to re-open the facility. There will be no prorated refunds.
Program + Rental Status Updates: ALL CURRENTLY CANCELED/POSTPONED
As a precaution, due to Carmel Clay Schools’ closure for the remainder of the academic year, and based on guidelines provided by the Indiana Governor and the Hamilton County Health Department, effective Friday, March 13, the following activities are canceled. Cancelation and closure times will be reassessed around May 1, and impacted parties will be notified:
- In accordance with Carmel Clay Schools, our before- and after-school program Extended School Enrichment is closed through the remainder of the school year.
- Recreation programming – canceled through Memorial Day
- Aquatic programs + swim lessons – canceled through Memorial Day
- Rentals – suspended until after April 12
- Group Fitness classes
  - Follow along with our virtual fitness offerings on our Facebook or YouTube channel.
- Volunteer and organized events (Hamilton County Homeschool Hoopla, Summer Hiring Event, Barrier-Free Theatre Performance, Swim Meet) – canceled through Memorial Day
  - If you’re looking to help during this unprecendented time, consider volunteering at food pantries or doing blood donation at Versiti Blood Center.
If you belong to one of these groups, please check your email for additional information.
Playgrounds, Restrooms + Monon Greeway (Main Street to Gradle Drive): CLOSED (Parks + other Trails: Open)
We understand that our services are an important place for the health and physical activity of our community. It is with heavy hearts we share that our playgrounds, restrooms, portion of the Monon Greenway, artesian well at Flowing Well Park and Central Dog Park are closed until further notice. Open spaces and trails remain open.
- Effective 3/26, the Monon Greenway is closed between Main Street and Gradle Drive and Midtown Plaza is also closed to promote social distancing and stop the spread of COVID-19.
  - Help us keep the rest of the Monon Greenway open. Please practice social distancing when using the Monon Greenway and our parks! If the trail continues to experience heavy usage, it will have to be closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please spread out, use our parks and perimeter trails to enjoy the great outdoors! Click here for an interview with Director Klitzing and the IndyStar.
- The artesian well at Flowing Well Park is closed until further notice to protect the health and safety of our visitors. The rest of Flowing Well Park remains open.
- Please practice social distancing and avoid close contact with others. The CDC recommends a minimum of 6 feet distance to help reduce the risk of spread between individuals.
- Do not congregate in groups of 10 people or more. While we pride ourselves on being a friendly community, please avoid social gatherings in our parks at this time.
- We need your help to keep our parks safe to you and others. Please stay home if you are sick and practice good hygiene. Sanitize your hands after touching surfaces within the parks. Avoid touching your face. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Place garbage in trash receptacles.
- Please be aware of travel restrictions in your area.
Dog Park: CLOSED
We understand that our services are an important place for the health and physical activity of our community. The Central Dog Park is closed until further notice. While visiting our parks and trails, please be aware of the following:
- The Dog Park and restrooms are closed until further notice. Researchers have found that the virus may last on metal or plastic surfaces for up to 3 days.
- Please practice social distancing and avoid close contact with others. The CDC recommends a minimum of 6 feet distance to help reduce the risk of spread between individuals.
- Do not congregate in groups of 10 people or more. While we pride ourselves on being a friendly community, please avoid social gatherings in our parks at this time.
- We need your help to keep our parks safe to you and others. Please stay home if you are sick and practice good hygiene. Sanitize your hands after touching surfaces within the parks. Avoid touching your face. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Place garbage in trash receptacles.
- Cancelation Requests: You are still able to cancel your membership through the regular process at this time by emailing Matt Wilhelm; however, please keep in mind that if you cancel now, you will be added to the end of the waitlist if you decide you would like to re-join once we reopen. If you decide to keep your membership and do not submit a cancelation request, we will automatically suspend the monthly payment charges until we are cleared to re-open the facility. There will be no prorated refunds.
If you see something that needs attention, please submit a comment on our HAPPiFEET-Carmel Clay app, available in your app store.
Cleaning Procedures
PARKS + GREENWAYS :: CLEANING PROCEDURES
1. Cleaning products are being utilized that help combat the human Coronavirus and other known viruses. CCPR will continue to clean and disinfect our parks in alignment with guidance from the CDC.
2. Extra attention has been focused on sanitizing high-traffic areas and commonly used surfaces by staff.
If you see something that needs attention, please submit a comment on our HAPPiFEET-Carmel Clay app, available in your app store.

RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Playgrounds and restrooms are closed.
2. Please practice social distancing and avoid close contact with others. The CDC recommends a minimum of 6 feet distance to help reduce the risk of spread between individuals.
3. Do not congregate in groups of 10 people or more. While we pride ourselves on being a friendly community, please avoid social gatherings in our parks at this time.
4. We need your help to keep our parks safe you and others. Please stay home if you are sick and practice good hygiene. Wash your hands after touching surfaces within the parks. Avoid touching your face. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Place garbage in trash receptacles.
MONON COMMUNITY CENTER :: CLEANING PROCEDURES

We understand that our services are an important place for the health and physical activity of our community. While the Monon Community Center is closed, our parks remain open and we are committed to keeping our restrooms clean for park visitors. The list below outlines all our cleaning measures, including those implemented at the Monon Community Center facility up until it’s closure on March 16.
- Cleaning products are being utilized that help combat the human Coronavirus and other known viruses. CCPR will continue to clean and disinfect our facilities in alignment with guidance from the CDC.
- Extra attention has been focused on sanitizing high-traffic areas and commonly used surfaces by custodial staff.
- Handwashing supplies are continually being checked, restocked and refilled.
- Doors are being propped open to help limit your contact with door handles.
- Designated Hand Washing Stations have been established in one of the single use restrooms by the track entrance.
- Our wipes are a cleaning and deodorizing wipe that feature a quaternary disinfectant. We use a specific wipe that is safe to use on our equipment long term without causing damage to the console screens and upholstery. However, our staff are equipped with disinfectant spray that has been confirmed to kill viruses. The staff routinely go through the equipment to disinfect and deep clean and we have increased our cleaning efforts in recent weeks to give more focus on disinfection. We have also provided additional disinfectant spray and provided it throughout our fitness center and fitness studios for anyone to use. We are in the process of identifying other disinfection wipes that may be safe for long term use on the equipment.
Tips to Protect You and Others from Illness
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have provided some preventative measures you can take as well.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Stay home if you have a fever or flu-like symptoms remain home until “fever free” for 24 hours. Fever free is considered having a temperature of less than 100° without medication for 24 hours.
- Consider saying home if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age (60+) or because you have a serious long-term health problem.
- Wash hands or use sanitizer. Wash hands for a minimum of 20 seconds.
- Stay away from people who are sick or not feeling well and avoid close contact with others through hugging, kissing or shaking hands.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects such as toys and doorknobs.
- Clean your mats and wipe down equipment before and after use while attending fitness classes or spaces.
- Bring your own towel or water bottle.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow. Throw used tissues away in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Seek assistance from a health professional if you see or experience symptoms that cause concern.
For additional information on COVID-19 visit the CDC’s site https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, Hamilton County Health Department’s site https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1595/COVID-19-Coronavirus-Information, and the Indiana State Department of Health https://www.in.gov/isdh/28470.htm.
All Travel
- MCC members, recreation programming or ESE participants, and all Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation staff returning from a country with a Level 3 or higher travel advisory must self-quarantine for 14 days upon return to the US.
- As this situation is rapidly evolving, health authorities may also impose international, domestic and/or regional US travel restrictions at any time. Please reference the CDC website on quarantine requirements based on your travel plans.
- MCC members, recreation programming or ESE participants, and all Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation staff who return from ANY travel with COVID-19 symptoms may be required to self-quarantine.
Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation Employees
During the disruption of services (Monon Community Center closure, Extended School Enrichment and program cancellations) due to the Coronavirus – we will be paying our employees. We truly appreciate your concern for our employees, their families and our community.
Administrative Offices
Until further notice, the Administrative Offices will be closed to the public and all personnel have been assigned work from home responsibilities. If you have business at the Administrative Offices, please contact the person via email to determine if there is an alternative option for accomplishing the work. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult national crisis.
Criteria for Closure/Program Cancelation
- The Monon Community Center is closed effective Monday, March 16, and all programs are canceled. Please see above drop downs for detailed information.
- Our parks and restrooms are remaining open for the time being.
- In accordance with Carmel Clay Schools, our before- and after-school program Extended School Enrichment is also closed through April 10, including School’s Out Spring Break Camp.