Coronavirus Information

With the release of the Governor’s Back on Track Indiana plan and Stage updates, Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation continues to look forward to providing opportunities for the public to once again explore, engage and connect with our award-winning park system. CCPR has proactively identified and established safety protocols for the phased reopening of our parks, programs, and facilities. Visitors and participants will notice a variety of significant changes to CCPR’s operations, especially during the initial phases of implementation, to best ensure everyone’s wellbeing.
 
“In preparing our resumption of operations plan, CCPR relied on best practices from the Back on Track Indiana plan, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Recreation and Park Association, among other sources,” explained Michael Klitzing, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We also want to thank the Hamilton County Health Department and a panel of respected doctors for reviewing and providing valuable feedback on our plan.” The panel was comprised of Dr. Michael Kaufmann, Dr. Tracey Ikerd, and Dr. Timothy Hannon.
 
The reopening plan is available in the links below. Area-specific information may also be found in the below dropdowns. Stages are subject to change based on CDC guidance and other new information. Additional restrictions could apply.

RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS PLAN (VERSION 6.0)

Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation – Resumption of Operations Plan Snapshot

MONON COMMUNITY CENTER – RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS PLAN Snapshot

Parks & Greenways – Resumption of Operations Plan Snapshot

We are excited to share that as part of the Governor’s Back on Track Indiana Plan, the Monon Community Center is open and accepting new members. Below we outline steps we’re taking to keep our members and staff safe at the Monon Community Center.

MCC Reopening Plan

Learn more about the MCC Mask Mandate

MCC MASK REQUIREMENTS SNAPSHOT

If you or your participant are unable to meet the mask mandate due to a medical condition and/or disability, please complete our Request for Modifications form. Requests will be reviewed by our ADA Coordinator as quickly as possible.

Request for Modification Form

Safety is our number one priority. To ensure that you feel safe returning to the facility, we wanted to share our reopening plan. Our team has relied on best practices from the Back on Track Indiana plan, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Recreation and Park Association and worked closely with the Hamilton County Health Department and a panel of respected doctors to develop our plan. 

General Notes

• Per IN Governor’s Executive Order No. 20-48, no one will be permitted into the facility without a face covering. Please note that you will be asked to leave if you are not wearing a face covering in the areas designated on our Mask Requirements signage.
• If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.
• We encourage you to perform a temperature check at home prior to visiting the facility.
• The East Building will be open to traffic during peak traffic times starting Monday, September 28. 
  • Monday – Friday 8 a.m. –8 p.m. 
  • Saturday + Sunday 8 a.m. –6 p.m. 
• We will continue enhanced cleaning measures throughout the day and will fog the facility at the end of each day. Cleaning products will be provided so you can clean the fitness equipment to your desired level.
• The Sauna will remain closed until further notice. 
• Guests 11 to 14 years must be under direct adult supervision in the Fitness Center.

Gymnasium

• Gymnasiums are open. View the current gym schedule for available times. 

Fitness Center

• Equipment has been spread out to promote physical distancing.
• Saunas will remain closed.
• Towel services will be temporarily suspended. If you would like to use a towel, please bring one from home.
• We ask you to clean to your desired level before using a piece of equipment.

Aquatics

• Reservations are required for using the indoor lap lanes.  
• Indoor Activity Pool & Slides:  
  • Starting Sept. 26, our indoor activity pool will resume normal weekend operations (12-7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.–7p.m. on Sunday). 
  • Beginning the week of Oct. 5, we will resume weekday evening hours (4:30-8 p.m. daily).  
• Lap Swimming: 
  • We will continue using our reservation system for lap swimming. A reservation secures one lane for your use for 30 minutes. If you’d like to swim longer than 30 minutes, please reserve consecutive time slots. With only six lanes available per time slot, should you need to cancel please do so promptly so members on the waitlist can be notified.  
  • If you would like to share a lane with someone you know, please feel free to make a reservation under one of your names. 

Group Fitness Classes

• Reservations are required for attending group fitness classes.  
  • Pre-registration guarantees your spot as long as you arrive and “check-in” five minutes prior to your class. Otherwise, your spot can be used by a waitlisted participant. 
• Click here to view our group fitness schedule online. 
• Due to a demand for additional classes, we will add some of our most popular classes back such as Cycle, Aqua and Zumba into the schedule. 
• Class locations: 
  • Cycling will remain in Dance A.  
  • Yoga will remain in Multi East.  
  • Senior classes will be added and in east building.  
  • All other classes will remain in Gym A.  
• Virtual classes will end Sept. 28, as this is not a sustainable option for us with amenities opening back up. 

Indoor Track 

• We will begin a phased reopening of the indoor track for members. Starting Sept. 26, two lanes will be open for walking only. We will continue moving fitness equipment off the track in the coming weeks to open more lanes.  

KidZone 

• KidZone hours are Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. KidZone will be opened under the following restrictions: 
  • Open to children 3 years and older. 
  • Maximum of 25 kids at a time. 
  • Reservations will be required to help control capacity. 
  • Learn more + reserve your spot.

Registration for winter/spring programming is open.

Visit Programs Page

View the Winter/Spring Program Guide

Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation offers a variety of recreational programming for our community each season. While we have to offer a modified schedule this summer, we offer formats for all abilities and ages. Our program categories include aquatics, nature, science & technology, sports, enrichment, creative arts, adaptive, senior and wellness. 

COVID-Related Procedures for Programming:

• Each room will be cleaned before and after each program.
• If program supplies are used, they will be cleaned before and after each program.
• Program supplies will not be shared between participants.
• Mask should not be worn in Aquatics, Sports and Wellness programs unless notified.
• Masks should be worn in Nature, Creative Arts, Enrichment, and Science & Technology, + Senior programs unless notified.
• Physical distancing guidelines should be followed.

Register

Register for ESE

Register for School’s Out Camps

Masks

• ESE participants will be required to wear face covering any time physical distancing is not possible. This includes, but is not limited to entering or exiting the building, transitions from one program space to another, waiting in line, participating in select activities, etc. Working with the CCS building principal and/or their designee, ESE supervisors will determine when student face coverings should be worn or can be removed (e.g. face covering may be removed at outdoor recess or during strenuous activity when physical distancing is an option). 

ESE Mask Requirements

Breakfast/Snack

• CCS Food Services will provide pre-wrapped menu items for a grab and go style delivery of food items. Participants will be expected to wash hands or use hand sanitizer prior to eating snack or breakfast.  Whenever possible, participants will stay with their pods to eat “picnic style” outdoors. Each student will be supervised with hand washing/hand sanitizer before they eat. Participants will also be permitted to bring breakfast and/or snack from home for consumption during designated ESE breakfast/snack times. 

Drinking Fountains/Water

• Drinking fountains will not be permitted for use at school facilities. Students are encouraged to bring a labeled bottle for water to ESE each day.

Sunscreen/Increased Outdoor Program Time

• ESE programs will spend as much time as possible outdoors during program time to encourage physical distancing, active play and fresh air. If desired, participants may self-apply parent-provided sunscreen with the guidance of staff prior to participating in outdoor activities. Parent/guardian must provide sunscreen to be used during ESE to supervisor. Sunscreen should be labeled with child’s name and will be kept on-site for child’s exclusive use while at ESE. 

Recess/Playgrounds

• Participants will wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to recess and after designated recess time. ESE will utilize school playground equipment as long as the equipment remains open per CCS.

Monitoring for Sign of Illness

• Staff will monitor children looking for signs of illness and will notify the appropriate personnel if a child develops a constant cough, shortness of breath or appears to have a fever.  Parent/guardian may be called for immediate pick-up, and child may be prohibited from attending ESE until fever free for 72 hours. Prompt pick-up is expected in this situation, and lack of promptness or communication may result in suspension from attendance in ESE programs. CCPR will identify a designated isolation area at each ESE location for those participants that become ill. Staff will monitor coughing and sneezing and will be trained to require participants to immediately wash hands if caught doing so. Additionally, staff will work to educate participants to cough and sneeze into their elbows.
• Parents/guardians are our best defense against the spread of viruses at ESE. In order to operate under the current circumstances every effort will be made to educate parents/guardians to ensure that children are not sent to school sick.

Behavior Management

• Participants must be able to successfully participate with program changes necessary for increased health and safety of other students and staff. A Modified Behavior Consequence Rubric will be made available to all parents/guardians. Parent/guardian will be offered education on health and safety reasons behind modified behavior rubric.  Physical prompting and physical intervention of students (e.g. use of CPI interventions for trained staff members) is highly discouraged, however if required, staff will follow hand washing protocol. Parent/guardian may be contacted for immediate pick up from the program if any of these techniques must be utilized. 

Outside Vendors, Field Trips, Site Celebrations, Parent’s Night Out

• Special programs (e.g. Site Celebrations) inviting parents/guardians into the ESE program will be temporarily suspended. Parent’s Night Out events will be temporarily suspended. ESE will not offer external vendors and/or field trips during the fall semester. We will re-evaluate for the spring semester. 

Usually, we’re sharing the Summer Camp Series Guide with you around this time of year. Like so many other things, our summer camp rollout is going to be a little different this year. Our team is working hard to plan not only a fun summer but a safe summer as well.

While we will offer 2021 summer camps, registration will be pushed back a few months. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months about our summer camp offerings and registration.

The status of facility rentals are subject to change.  Visit the rentals page for more information.

Westermeier Commons, River Heritage and Lawrence W. Inlow are now open for rental.

We understand that our parks + greenways are an important place for the health and physical activity of our community. Playgrounds + splash pads are now open.

PARKS & NATURAL RESOURCES MASK REQUIREMENTS

Parks & Greenways – Resumption of Operations Plan Snapshot

• All sections of the Monon Greenway are open.
  • If the Monon Greenway is busy please avoid the area. As an alternative consider visiting trails in our parks.
  • Always maintain physical distancing.
  • Hand sanitizer stations have been placed along Monon Boulevard and around Midtown Plaza, thanks to a generous sponsorship from Allied Solutions.
  • Trailhead restrooms at 96th Street and Rohrer Road are open.
• Parks and open spaces are partially open, with some amenities remaining closed.
  • Playgrounds are open.
  • Central Park skatepark is open.
  • Central Dog Park is partially open. The grass section for large dogs remains closed due to wet conditions from all of the recent rain. The mulched zone for large dogs is open.
  • Restrooms are open in the following locations:
    • Central Park:
      • Dog park & east woods latrine.
      • Westermeier Commons restrooms remain closed.
    • Hazel Landing Park:
      • Portable toilet and hand washing station.
    • Meadowlark Park:
      • Portable toilet and hand washing station.
    • West Park:
      • Main restrooms are open.
      • Jill Perelman Pavilion restrooms remain closed.
• Flowing Well Park is closed (effective May 3) due to park improvements and upgrades currently underway. Click here for more information. 
• Please practice physical 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.

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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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.

• 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.

The Administrative Offices are open. Face coverings are required if stopping by the office.

With kids at home, keep them learning and entertained for hours. Here are some suggested resources:

• Bright by Text
• PBS Kids
• Starfall
• CoolMath
• TIME for Kids
• National Geographic Kids
• The KIDZ Page
• How Stuff Works
• Fun Brain
• Nick Jr.
• Scholastic
• Exploratorium
• BBC History
• Highlights for Kids
• Old Farmer’s Almanac
• Disney Jr.

• Educational materials, including posters and videos from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/tools-resources/educational-materials.html
• General Information/Posters from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html
• Informational videos from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus
• A Guide: How to Prepare Your Home for Coronavirus: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/a-guide-how-to-prepare-your-home-for-coronavirus