The City of Georgetown will open several facilities and lobbies to the public starting May 18, according to a news release sent May 14.
“While we reopen some city facilities to provide better access to additional city services, we do so very cautiously,” Mayor Dale Ross said in the release. “We continue to prioritize your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of our staff. The last thing we want to do is contribute to a second spike of COVID-19 cases in our community. So, we ask everyone coming to our facilities to follow the safety guidelines we’ve put into place.”
The city anticipates opening Municipal Court and the Recreation Center as early as June 1.
The Georgetown Public Library and some park amenities opened May 1, and the Tennis Center opened May 4. The city will reclose any of its facilities if safety procedures cannot be maintained or the governor alters his orders.
The following is a detailed listing from the release of what is opening and under what conditions.
Safety changes
Unless otherwise stated, the public can expect the following changes when visiting city facilities and interacting with staff:
- Occupancy limits;
- Face coverings strongly encouraged but optional unless physical distancing cannot be maintained, in which case masks will be provided or other accommodations will be made;
- Minimizing touch points;
- Hand sanitizing stations;
- Sanitation schedules;
- Signage indicating occupancy limits and directions for self-screening before entering the building;
- Safe-spacing floor markers;
- Limited seating;
- Limited hours; and
- Physical distancing.
Lobbies opening
The following facilities will open their lobbies to the public under the safety guidelines listed above, including removal of seating, safety spacers and face covering requirements when a safe physical distance cannot be maintained:
- City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King, Jr. St.;
- Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.;
- Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road, including the medication collection kiosk;
- Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.; iPads and seating will be available in the lobby for people who need to access the internet to connect or disconnect utility service; and
- Georgetown Municipal Airport terminal, 500 Terminal Drive.
Staff will continue to monitor orders from the governor’s office and work to open additional facilities and services, including pools and summer programs, as soon as is feasible. The city has not yet made a determination on all summer camps but so far has canceled the Junior Fire Academy and all tennis and adventure camps as well as the adaptive camps for June. Georgetown Police Department also canceled its Junior Police Academy.
The city anticipates opening the Recreation Center as soon as June 1. Although the governor’s orders allow gyms to open at limited capacity May 18, the center will be used through May 28 to offer child care to the city’s essential employees.
Park amenities open by May 18
- Garey Park, with new fees
- Garey House: Private tours and outdoor photo shoots
- Bark Park dog park
- Pavilions with one table
- Drinking fountains
- Restrooms, except at VFW Park and the McMaster Athletic Complex
- Skate park
- Blue Hole Park
- Parks administrative offices by appointment only
- Tennis courts and pickleball courts at McMaster Athletic Complex limited to four players per courts
- Georgetown Tennis Center by reservation only
- Pools
- Playgrounds and splash pads
- Pavilions with more than one table
- Exercise equipment
- Basketball courts
- Volleyball courts
- VFW Park
- McMaster Athletic Complex
- San Gabriel Park baseball fields
- Recreation Center
Staff will be working at the gatehouse window starting 8 a.m. Monday, May 18. The interior of the gatehouse remains closed to the public. Park hours remain 8 a.m.-6 p.m. until further notice. The playground and splash pad will remain closed.
Annual passes sold prior to May 18 will continue to be extended for the duration of the Play Ranch closure. Equine passes will no longer be extended once the gatehouse open.
Daily entrance fees effective May 18 are as follows.
- Daily entrance fees: $2 per resident and $4 per nonresident, children 3 years and younger free
- Daily equestrian fee: $6 per resident and $8 per nonresident
- Annual park pass: $100 for resident individual, $150 for nonresident individual
- Annual equestrian pass: $125 for resident rider, $200 for nonresident rider
Georgetown Municipal Court
In accordance with the orders of the Supreme Court of Texas and under the guidance of the Office of Court Administration, the Georgetown Municipal Court will not conduct any in-person proceedings, including use of lobby transaction windows, until at least June 1. Any essential proceedings that must be held in person will be limited to no more than 10 people.
The Municipal Court lobby will remain closed, but staff will be available to assist customers by phone, fax or email during regular business hours. 512-930-3625. [email protected]