MOHAVE COUNTY – Bullhead City park staff spent a great deal of time Saturday closing park amenities per Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s Executive Order issued late Friday. Also consistent with the Governor’s order, the city also instructed all barbers, cosmetology, hairstyling, nail salons and aesthetic salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, spas, and massage parlors to close.
On Saturday, City park staff closed the Skate Park at Rotary Park, removed all rims from all park basketball hoops, closed all bathrooms, removed picnic tables and shut down all dugouts. All dugouts were closed at all softball and baseball fields because you cannot physically distance in any dugout. The baseball and softball fields remain open for personal use. No teams or organized groups are allowed. Picnic tables were also removed from Community Park and other parks.
Lake Havasu City and Kingman have followed suit, closing all public facilities such as public restrooms at parks, removing some playground equipment, splash pads, basketball courts, and dog parks.
Kingman Mayor Jen Miles said, “Mayors from around the state, including myself, have been working with the Governor’s office for more clarification regarding ‘essential businesses,’ and what those closures should look like, in order to follow CDC guidelines. These steps are vitally important in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. We ask everyone to adhere to the new restrictions so that we can save lives and support our healthcare professionals and system.”
“We must advise everyone to go to the bathroom before you come to a City park,” City Manager Toby Cotter said. “The Governor is making us shut down bathrooms. While we may not agree with that decision, it has been ordered so Bullhead City will comply with the state directive. The City also removed dozens of picnic tables from the parks because large groups continue to gather in Community Park. The Governor wants people to stay home. Bullhead City parks should be viewed more as passive recreation locations with very few amenities open until April 30.”
The Bullhead City splash pad at Ken Fovargue Park had already been closed. No parties are allowed in City parks, including bouncy houses or inflatables. No ramada reservations are allowed. All special events and tournaments scheduled in the parks have been canceled through April. Physical distancing also applies at all City beaches. Park rangers will begin to warn anyone at a beach or other park location to not gather in groups of 10 or more.
Those living in apartments and condos are also impacted by the most recent Executive Order as community pools must also be closed today. Communal pools such as those at hotels, condominiums, apartment complexes, RV Parks and city parks. These parks should still be maintained under environmental and public health rules and guidelines. Bullhead City’s Municipal Pool has been closed for several weeks.
If not already closed, the following services shall cease operations no later than 5 p.m. on April 4, as these services cannot comply with the guidelines required in paragraph 11 of Executive Order 2020-18, directing Arizonans to Stay Home, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected.
· Barbers
· Cosmetology, Hairstyling, Nail Salons and Aesthetic Salons
· Tanning salons
· Tattoo parlors
· Spas
· Massage parlors
The Governor’s Office also provided guidance related to the following services, which are considered essential and may continue operations:
· Personal hygiene services including in-home services such as assistance with bathing and cleaning for vulnerable adults and those who are disabled.
· Daycare centers providing care for individuals with children serving in any essential services category.
· Hotels and motels, to the extent used for lodging, including RV Parks, and hotel and motel restaurants providing delivery or carryout food services.
· Respite and palliative care.