City of Taylor to keep park facilities closed due to increase in COVID-19 cases

TAYLOR, Texas - City of Taylor officials have decided to keep park facilities closed until further notice and will restrict large gatherings and events at public facilities.

The city says the decision came after officials consulted with the Williamson County and Cities Health District about a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in the county. Park facilities will continue to be closed until the county sees a 14-day decline in cases, as recommended by the WCCHD.

“We know that people want to get together as they are accustomed to doing in the summer, but we also know that cases are on the rise in our area. Without a vaccine or effective treatment, the virus spreads quickly, so social distancing is really the only weapon we have against it," said Mayor Brandt Rydell in a release. "After talking with our partners at the Williamson County and Cities Health District, we felt that this was the most responsible thing to do for our community, especially for those who are most vulnerable to the effects of the virus.”

Open spaces in city parks will be closed to the public on July 4-5 in order to discourage large gatherings over the holiday weekend. Trails and sidewalks will remain open for walking and running.

All scheduled programs, activities, games, and rentals scheduled at the city's parks will be canceled until further notice. Splash pads will continue to stay off and pools will remain closed. The skate park, pavilions, playscapes, as well as volleyball and basketball court areas and restrooms in City parks will remain closed.

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Tennis courts, hike and bike trails, park open spaces, sidewalks, and running track will remain open for active use within the currently permitted constraints of social and physical distancing. Soccer practices at Texas Regional Park can continue, although tournaments through the summer have been canceled.

The city's vehicle-only Independence Day Parade will continue as planned, and a fireworks display planned for that evening will also move forward. However, residents will not be able to watch the display from open spaces in parks. The city is strongly encouraging those watching the display to use precaution, maintain social distancing, and wear masks if they can't socially distance.

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The city says it will continue to monitor the situation closely with Williamson County and the WCCHD. Updates will be posted online and on social media as they become available.