City facilities opening Monday, May 18

The City of Georgetown will open several facilities and lobbies to the public starting May 18, in accordance with orders from the governor’s office, as well as the City’s ability to provide essential safety measures and enforce occupancy requirements.

“While we reopen some City facilities to provide better access to additional City services, we do so very cautiously,” Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross said. “We continue to prioritize your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of our staff. The last thing we want to do is contribute to a second spike of COVID-19 cases in our community. So, we ask everyone coming to our facilities to follow the safety guidelines we’ve put into place.”

What follows is a detailed listing of what is opening and under what conditions. The City anticipates opening Municipal Court and the Recreation Center as early as June 1.

The Georgetown Public Library and some park amenities opened May 1, and the Tennis Center opened May 4. For more details, see the April 30 news release. The City will reclose any of its facility, if safety procedures can’t be maintained or the governor alters his orders.

For additional detail about City services and COVID-19-related information, visit bit.ly/COVID19GTX.

Safety changes

Unless otherwise stated, the public can expect the following changes when visiting City facilities and interacting with staff:

• Occupancy limits
• Face coverings, strongly encouraged but optional
  • Unless physical distancing cannot be maintained, in which case, masks will be provided or other accommodations will be made.
• Minimizing touch points
• Hand sanitizing stations
• Sanitization schedules
• Signage indicating occupancy limits and directions for self-screening before entering the building
• Safe-spacing, floor markers
• Limited seating
• Limited hours
• Physical distancing

In addition to the steps listed above, City employees will be required to take their temperature before and when they arrive to work. Employees also will be required to wear masks when interacting with anyone, staff or public, if 6 feet can’t be maintained. Employees exchanging items with the public, like cash, will wear gloves. The City continues to prioritize telecommuting, virtual meetings, and working in shifts, to limit number of people in the building at one time.

Lobbies opening

The following facilities will open their lobbies to the public, under the safety guidelines listed above, including removal of seating, safety spacers, and face covering requirements when a safe physical distance cannot be maintained:

• City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King, Jr. St.
• Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
• Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road, including the medication collection kiosk
• Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
  • iPads and seating will be available in the lobby for people who need to access the internet to connect or disconnect utility service.
• Georgetown Municipal Airport terminal, 500 Terminal Drive

Parks and Recreation

Staff will continue to monitor orders from the governor’s office and work to open additional facilities and services, including pools and summer programs, as soon as is feasible. The City hasn’t yet made a determination on all summer camps, but so far has cancelled the Junior Fire Academy and all Tennis and Adventure camps, as well as the Adaptive camps for June. Georgetown Police Department also cancelled its Junior Police Academy.

The City anticipates opening the Recreation Center as soon as June 1. Although the governor’s orders allow gyms to open at limited capacity on May 18, the Center will be used through May 28 to offer childcare to the City’s essential employees.

Open by May 18

• Garey Park, with new fees
• Garey House: Private tours and outdoor photoshoots
• Bark Park
• Pavilions with one table
• Drinking fountains
• Restrooms: Except at VFW Park and the McMaster Athletic Complex
• Skate Park
• Blue Hole Park
• Parks administrative offices: By appointment only
• Tennis courts and pickleball courts at McMaster Athletic Complex: Limit to four players per court
• Georgetown Tennis Center: Reservation only

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also has opened the Georgetown and Granger Overlook and the Georgetown and Granger Stilling Basin.

Remaining closed

• Pools
• Playgrounds and splash pads
• Pavilions with more than one table
• Exercise equipment
• Basketball courts
• Volleyball courts
• VFW Park
• McMaster Athletic Complex
• San Gabriel Park baseball fields
• Recreation Center
• Community Center
• Parks Administrative Offices, by appointment only

Garey Park

Staff will be working at the gatehouse window starting 8 a.m. Monday, May 18. The interior of the gatehouse remains closed to the public. Park hours remain 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. Playground and splash pad remain closed.

Annual passes sold prior to May 18 will continue to be extended for the duration of the Play Ranch closure. Equine passes will no longer be extended once the gatehouse open.

The following park fees will go into effect May 18:

Daily entrance fees:

• Per person: $2/resident & $4/nonresident
• Equestrian rider: $6/resident & $8/nonresident
• Children 3 years and younger: Free

Annual Passes:

• Annual park pass (no change):
  • $100/resident individual
  • $150/nonresident individual
• Annual equestrian pass:
  • $125/resident rider
  • $200/nonresident rider

  A 50 percent discount will be offered on Tuesdays from October 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021.

  For complete details or updates, visit parks.georgetown.org.

  Municipal Court

  In accordance with the orders of the Supreme Court of Texas, and under the guidance of the Office of Court Administration, Municipal Court will not conduct any in-person proceedings, including the lobby transaction windows, until at least June 1. Any essential proceedings that must be held in-person will be limited to no more than 10 people.

  The Municipal Court lobby will remain closed, but staff will be available to assist customers by phone, fax, or email during regular business hours. Contact Municipal Court at (512) 930-3625, court@georgetown.org or fax at (512) 930-8030.