Mayor Tim Kelly issued an executive order on Friday that will reopen all remaining city facilities that were shuttered during the pandemic.
This includes reopening all YFD centers and Senior Centers on June 1 and all remaining pools on June 7. Summer camps will also begin on June 7.
The order follows the presentation to City Council on Tuesday of the city’s safe reopening plan, which puts in place measures to ensure social distancing, enhanced cleaning, and limited capacity per CDC guidelines.
The Warner Park Pool and Splashpad was opened today by a previous executive order.
“As the weather warms up, I am grateful for the opportunity to once again provide these important city services that bring our neighbors together in the spirit of community,” said Mayor Kelly. “Our city’s YFD centers, pools and senior centers provide vital services and offer welcome diversions. Reopening them safely has been a top priority for my administration.”
Dr. Mary Lambert, Chattanooga’s director of community health, said that the city is continuing to monitor factors related to COVID-19, such as vaccine and infection rates, to ensure public safety as these critical community resources reopen.
“Now that our city has taken a big step toward normalcy, our community’s continuing challenge will be to put this pandemic behind us through vaccinations in order to maintain these gains,” Dr. Lambert said. “The last thing anyone wants is to see a rise in infections because of a failure to take advantage of easily accessible vaccinations, which are shown to protect our families and loved ones from the COVID-19 virus.”
Under the order, masks continue to be required in all city buildings for non-vaccinated adults. However, masks for any children under the age of 18 are now optional in all city buildings, including YFD centers and pools.
This week’s executive order continues to cover the ongoing emergency care being provided to residents who were displaced by the March 2021 fire at Patten Towers. On Wednesday, residents of floors eight-11 were able to begin moving back in, but residents who were evacuated from other floors are still awaiting reinstatement. These residents continue to need food, shelter and other provisions to ensure their health and safety.
“Elmington Capital, the owner of Patten Towers, is working diligently to reopen all floors and allow all residents to return home, and I’m grateful that they were able to open many of the building’s floors this week,” said Brent Goldberg, the city’s chief of staff. “In the meantime, we will continue to provide support to those who were displaced by the fire.”