As Coronavirus Slows, Marlborough Library, Parks Start Reopening

MARLBOROUGH, MA — A raft of city services that were shut down due to coronavirus will begin reopening this week, and that includes some restaurants that have been restricted to take-out and delivery.

On Wednesday, Mayor Arthur Vigeant said that the library would begin offering contactless pickup on June 15. All city playgrounds, sports courts, and fields reopened on Wednesday. The splash pad at Ghiloni Park will likely open for the summer on Monday.

Restaurants in Marlborough may also begin applying for permission to open outdoor dining spaces. Businesses can apply through Vigeant's office before getting approval from the Licensing Board. Twenty restaurants got approval for outdoor dining at the June 8 meeting, according to city officials.

The new reopenings do come with some restrictions. Library patrons will have to make appointments to pick up materials, and hours will be limited to 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The city is not allowing contact sports at parks and fields. Sports like tennis and pickleball are allowed.

The reopening comes as coronavirus slows in Marlborough. As of Wednesday, there were only 60 active cases in the city, an all-time low since health officials began releasing coronavirus data in early April. The city has seen 954 total cases and 51 deaths over the course of the pandemic.