Park District Cancels On-Site Programs For June

BUFFALO GROVE — Citing the pace at which things are progressing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Buffalo Grove Park District announced Thursday all on-site programs schedule for June have been canceled. In addition, the Willow Stream Pool will not open in 2020.

“Even though our in-person programs at our facilities won’t be able to happen as we head into summer, our staff is working hard to provide the community with opportunities to engage in recreational activities online,” Park District Executive Director Ryan Risinger said.

The announcement comes one day after it was announced all tennis and pickleball courts, along with two disc golf courses, would reopen.

A transition to virtual programming will continue in light of the latest news. The district is also considering possible postponement dates for events, once social distancing recommendations lessen. The summer program guide has been removed from the Buffalo Grove Park District's website; and, registration for the traditional summer season that was scheduled to begin on May 15 has been canceled.

The district announced it will instead be releasing a virtual recreation online programs guide each month, beginning May 25, with programs starting the following week of June 1. Similar online offerings will be released each month until operations return to normal. The June guide will be all virtual programming, but officials are hopeful they will able to reintroduce on-site programs in July or August, depending on what the local, state and federal guidelines and recommendations are regarding the pandemic.

With the June cancellations, the first session of summer camp has also been canceled, with virtual camp programs being offered instead. Again, officials are hopeful the second session of camp, which runs from July 13 through Aug. 7, might be salvageable. That decision will be made sometime in June.

“Being that there really is no way to know when our facilities will be able to reopen, we have decided to temporarily shift to shorter monthly programming periods," Risinger said. "This will give us the opportunity to adapt as necessary, while saving the District thousands of dollars on producing printed publications in advance for programs that might not even happen.”

In addition to many summer programs season being canceled, Willow Stream Pool will also not open this year. The Spray ‘N Play will remain closed until further notice; however, there is a chance of that facility possibly opening in late summer, depending on how the guidelines change regarding playgrounds and aquatics facilities.

For updated information as things change, visit the Park District website at bgparks.org.