GREENWOOD, Ind. — Most of Indiana begins stage four of reopening Friday with several new places able to welcome back guests for the first time since mid-March.
Bars, bowling alleys, theatres, zoos, museums and theme parks can open at 50% capacity. Playgrounds can reopen. Community sports leagues can resume. This week, Governor Eric Holcomb gave approval to move up the reopening two days earlier than originally scheduled.
The water is back on at the splash pad at City Center Park in Greenwood. Greenwood Parks and Recreation Department cleaned and tested the equipment Thursday. The summer fun finally starts Friday.
"To have this finally start turning back around and going into stage four early kind of gives us a little bit of a spark as a department and everybody in the city and the community,” said Rob Taggart, Greenwood Parks and Recreation Director. “We're excited for (Friday)."
Playgrounds across the state have been off limits for about three months. But first thing Friday morning, the orange plastic fencing that surrounds the playgrounds in Greenwood comes down. Taggert welcomes residents to use the facilities, but remember COVID-19 has not gone away.
"You need to instill a measure of common sense when you're coming to the parks,” said Taggart. “We're still within this pandemic. So yeah, have some social distancing within the parks grounds. And again, still bring your hand sanitizing equipment, and any soap or anything you need to clean your hands."
The big water park in Greenwood, Freedom Springs, will stick with its previously promoted opening day, which is on Monday. Bowling alleys can also reopen Friday. 10 Pins, a mini-bowling entertainment center on the town square in Franklin, welcomes back customers at 1 p.m.
"We've been closed for three months with no revenue,” said Pat Hagan, 10 Pins owner. “We've only been open since last July. So anxious, looking forward to, etc...I think you could throw in any adjective or adverb and it would be me. I'm ready for it to open back up."
Hagan is grateful for the early reopening, which gives an extra Friday and Saturday of revenue to businesses that make most of their money on the weekends. Hagan expects a big crowd, which will be limited to 50 percent capacity (75 people) with social distancing.
"The lanes already have about seven feet of separation between the bowlers,” said Hagan. “There's quick activity, so they're not standing next to each other for a long time. But we'll make sure that where social distancing is needed, we apply it, and make sure that people are safe."