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ToggleThe State of Florida will open, but slowly and methodically. The process will not be rushed, and an effort will be made to ensure public safety.
Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at a conference at Cleveland Clinic Florida-Weston about how he might go about reopening the state for business. The stay at home order will expire at the end of April but DeSantis and most Florida residents want a cautious approach to the reopening.
A task force of community and business leaders was formed to determine the best course of action. It is likely that the reopening will happen in several phases.
#NEW: Florida will begin phase-one of its reopening plan on Monday in all counties except Dade, Palm Beach & Broward.
— Chloe Salsameda WJBF (@ChloeSalsameda) April 30, 2020
Retail stores & restaurants can reopen at 25% capacity.
Bars, gyms, salons, schools & nursing home will remain closed.
There will be no events that involve large crowds. DeSantis said he is not ready to open movie theaters and bars. There will be no in-person sports events (although some televised sports events with no spectators at the contests might be allowed.)
Some outdoor dining might be permitted as long as people stay at least six feet or more apart.
DeSantis said the state has actually done well during the pandemic, but he is cautious. He said an announcement on the reopening of Florida will be coming soon.
“It’s not like turning on a light switch and we are back to February 1. We will reopen in a very smart and methodical way. I am less concerned about a date than I am about getting it right,”
DeSantis said during a conference in Orlando.
South Florida will reopen later than the rest of Florida because most of the COVID-19 cases have happened in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
There is concern about the number of people who have lost jobs and businesses because of the shutdown. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has been unable to handle the number of unemployment claims it has been receiving.
There have been demonstrations asking that the state be reopened soon. However, polls show that about 72 percent of people support restrictions to help curb the spread of the virus.
Public health officials have said the shelter-in-place orders currently in place should continue to prevent a later resurgence of the virus.
Broward County is reopening, and Hollywood is reopening slower
As the state is gradually starting to reopen, Gov. DeSantis has said he will announce plans for how the state will reopen but he has said it will be methodical and slow.
Broward County has issued a new Emergency Order that allowed for the reopening of some recreational facilities Wednesday, April 29th — including certain county parks, golf courses, boat ramps, marinas, and pools in multifamily developments. All of the openings come with specific restrictions — including limited hours, usage guidelines, social distancing requirements, and other regulations to limit interaction.
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THE FOLLOWING PARKS OPENED ON WED., APR. 29
- Anne Kolb Nature Center (grounds), 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood, FL 33019; 954-357-5161, ext. 0
- Boaters Park, North side of Dania Cutoff Canal, west of Anglers Ave./Ravenswood Rd., Dania Beach, FL 33312; 954-357-8811, ext. 0
- Brian Piccolo Sports Park & Velodrome, 9501 Sheridan St., Cooper City, FL 33024; 954-357-5150, ext. 0
- Crystal Lake Sand Pine Scrub, 3299 NE Third Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33064; 954-357-8109
- Dillard Green Space, 2699 W Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311; 954-357-8700, ext. 0
- Easterlin Park, 1000 NW 38th St., Oakland Park, FL 33309; 954-357-5190, ext. 0
- Everglades Holiday Park, 21940 Griffin Rd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332; 954-357-8868, ext. 0
- Fern Forest Nature Center (grounds), 201 Lyons Rd. South, Coconut Creek, FL 33063; 954-357-5198, ext. 0
- Helene Klein Pineland Preserve, 4701 W Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073; 954-357-8109
- Highlands Scrub Natural Area, 4050 N Dixie Hwy., Pompano Beach, FL 33064; 954-357-8109
- Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area, 5591 NW 74th Place, Coconut Creek, FL 33073; 954-357-8109
- Lewis-Chisom Park, 2620 NW Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311; 954-357-8700, ext. 0
- Long Key Natural Area (grounds), 3501 SW 130th Ave., Davie, FL 33330; 954-357-8797, ext. 0
- Markham Park, 16001 W State Rd. 84, Sunrise, FL 33326; 954-357-8868, ext. 0
- Miramar Pineland, 3600 S University Dr., Miramar, FL 33025; 954-357-8776, ext. 0
- Pine Island Ridge Natural Area, 3900 SW 100th Ave., Davie, FL 33328; 954-357-5130, ext. 0
- Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S Fig Tree Lane, Plantation, FL 33317; 954-357-5135, ext. 0
- Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park, 2520 NW Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311; 954-357-8801, ext. 0
- Saw Palmetto Natural Area, 4856 NW 71st Place., Coconut Creek, FL 33073; 954-357-8109
- Secret Woods Nature Center (grounds), 2701 W State Rd. 84, Dania Beach, FL 33312; 954-357-8884, ext. 0
- Sewell Lock, 3501 State Rd. 84, Davie, FL 33312; 954-357-8898, ext. 0
- Snake Warrior’s Island Natural Area, 3600 SW 62nd Ave., Miramar, FL 33025; 954-357-8776, ext. 0
- South Fork Canoe Launch, 4490 S State Rd. 7, Davie, FL 33312; 954-357-8811, ext. 0
- Sunview Park, 1500 S.W. 42nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317; 954-357-6520, ext. 0
- T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park, 3300 N Park Rd., Hollywood, FL 33021; 954-357-8811, ext. 0
- Tall Cypress Natural Area, 3700 Turtle Run Blvd., Coral Springs, FL 33065; 954-357-8109
- Tradewinds Park & Stables, 3600 W Sample Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073; 954-357-8870, ext. 0
- Tree Tops Park, 3900 SW 100th Ave., Davie, FL 33328; 954-357-5130, ext. 0
- Vista View Park, 4001 SW 142nd Ave., Davie, FL 33330; 954-357-8898, ext. 0
- Washburn Park, 1955 SW 50th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317; 954-357-6520, ext. 0
- West Creek Pineland Natural Area, 4800 W Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073; 954-357-8109
- West Lake Park, 1200 Sheridan St., Hollywood, FL 33019; 954-357-5161, ext. 0
- Woodmont Natural Area, 7250 NW 80th Ave., Tamarac, FL 33321; 954-357-8109
THE FOLLOWING PARKS REMAIN CLOSED AS THEY CONTINUE AS COVID-19 COLLECTION AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES
- C.B. Smith Park, 900 N Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33028
- Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, 3700 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill, FL 33311
- Quiet Waters Park, 401 S Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
THE FOLLOWING PARKS ARE CLOSED DUE TO LIMITED SPACE TO PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND/OR ALL AMENITIES ARE CLOSED
- Boulevard Gardens Community Center, 313 NW 28th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
- Carpenter House, 4414 Surf Rd., Hollywood, FL 33019
- Deerfield Highlands Nature Preserve, 701 N.E. 41st St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33064
- Deerfield Island Park, 1720 Deerfield Island Park, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
- Franklin Park, 2501 Franklin Dr., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
- Green Park, 4400 N Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
- Hawksbill Park, 5200 N Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
- Hollywood North Beach Park, 3501 N Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
- Kemp’s Ridley Park, 4918 N Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
- Lafayette Hart Park, 2851 NW Eighth Rd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
- Leatherback Park, 4398 N Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
- Loggerhead Park, 4008 N Ocean Dr., Hollywood, FL 33019
- Markham Target Range, 16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise, FL 33326
- Roosevelt Gardens Park, 2841 NW 11th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
THE FOLLOWING AMENITIES/ACTIVITIES REMAIN CLOSED
- All organized athletic leagues, games, races, practices, and tournaments, recreation programs, and events are suspended
- Social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people is not allowed
- All Golf
- Batting cages
- Boat rentals
- Bridges Enterprises (airboat rides/alligator shows)
- Broward Ski & Wakeboard School
- Butterfly World
- Campgrounds
- Community centers
- Corporate shelters/pavilions
- Cricket fields
- Dog parks
- Educational farm
- Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida
- Extension Education
- Football/soccer fields
- Fox Observatory
- Grills and grilling
- Horseshoes
- Indoor gyms
- Koslov Tennis Academy
- Marinas
- Marine Environmental Education Center
- Markham Target Range
- Meeting facilities
- Model airplane fields
- Model steam train rides
- Nature Center exhibit halls
- Netball court
- Outdoor fitness equipment areas
- Park offices
- Personal watercraft area
- Rental halls
- Riding stables
- Ski Rixen USA
- Softball/baseball fields
- Splash pads
- Sports fields
- Stadium
- Swimming pools
- Velodrome
- Volleyball areas
- Water parks and water playgrounds
- Zack’s Snacks
All beaches in Broward County will remain closed, as well as non-essential businesses.
The City of Hollywood is taking things slower. It plans to reopen recreational facilities next week. The City will not be reopening its parks, public or private golf courses, or boat ramps and marinas at this time.
The City will continue to monitor the case data in preparation for the possible phased opening of certain recreational amenities starting Wednesday, May 6. This is due to the current number of new COVID-19 cases in South Florida as documented by the Florida Department of Health each day.
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