Going to a park, marina or golf course as recreation reopens in Miami-Dade? There are rules
The closed gates at parks, marinas and golf courses swung open Wednesday in Miami-Dade and Broward County. That means people who have felt shut in since the shutdown can now have some open space.
But with a pandemic still limiting South Florida, there will be rules.
So while people are free to leave their kitchen and computer behind to get some fresh air, they will face restrictions as recreation areas reopen.
First thing to know: Recreation areas do not mean beaches. They remain closed in Miami-Dade and Broward. Key West opened several beaches this week, and the rest of the Keys never closed them.
Before venturing out to some green space in Miami-Dade or Broward, check with your city before leaving the house. Not every park or recreational area will be open. Miami has opted to keep its city parks closed for now. Coral Gables is also planning on keeping more than 35 parks that are smaller than one acre closed until further notice.
Everglades, Biscayne national parks, and state parks will also remain closed until the federal and state governments decide on a plan to allow the public to access the lands.
The limited reopening decision comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes the state to slowly restart its economy as South Florida continues to be hard-hit with COVID-19. As of Thursday, more than half of the state’s confirmed COVID-19 cases are in South Florida, with Miami-Dade County leading the state in the total number of confirmed cases and deaths.
If you’re thinking of visiting the park, taking your boat out for the day or playing a round of golf at your local course starting Wednesday, here are the new rules you need to know about in Miami-Dade.
Parks and recreational facilities
All parks and recreational facilities, excluding beaches, can open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Miami-Dade. Hours may vary by park or facility.
What is allowed:
▪ Walking, jogging, hiking, skating, cycling, nature walks on trails, and practicing “sports skills” solo or with immediate family. This includes shooting a basketball, dribbling a soccer ball, solo racquetball, singles tennis play, throwing a ball or similar activities. I
▪ At the basketball court, up to three people can shoot baskets per half court, as long as they have their own ball, but basketball games are not allowed. People can kick soccer balls in fields, but they can’t play soccer games. And you can play single tennis games but not doubles.
▪ Everyone must follow CDC social distancing guidelines, which means you must stay at least six feet from other people, at all times. Families who live together (spouses, domestic partners, parents/legal guardian with their children) do not have to distance from each other.
▪ Park staff will be allowed to control how many people are in the park and recreational facility at a time. If you are planning to drive to the park, keep in mind that parking availability will be limited as part of the county’s attempt to limit the number of people.
▪ Everyone who is at a park or other recreational facility is required to wear a facial covering — either a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose — at all times. Exceptions include children under 2, people who have trouble breathing because of a chronic pre-existing health condition or people who are engaged in “strenuous physical activity,” according to the county.
▪ There will be an attendant at each restroom location that will make sure only one person or family is allowed in at a time. The attendant will also ensure that the restroom is cleaned at least once every two hours.
Here’s what you can’t do at parks and other recreational facilities:
▪ Groups of 10 or more cannot gather.
▪ You can’t play table games, have picnics or parties.
▪ You cannot use bike racks, playgrounds, exercise equipment, dog parks, recreation buildings, picnic shelters, gyms, campgrounds, skate parks, splash pads and swimming pools, mechanical attractions (such as rides) and concessions.
▪ Miami-Dade’s Amelia Earhart Park will also remain closed because it is being used as a testing site for COVID-19.
Marinas, boat launches, charter vessels, fishing and on-water activities
Boat ramps:
▪ Boat ramps are allowed to be open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily but hours may vary by location.
▪ Everyone is required to wear a facial covering — either a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose — at all times while on shore and until the boat has departed the marina.
▪ Only one boat per launch ramp will be allowed at a time. The boat must be prepared ahead of time, including dock lines tied and safety equipment and provisions such as food and water already onboard and ready before launch.
▪ All passengers will be required to board the boat once its launched. When returning, all passengers must stay on the boat until it’s ready to be loaded on the trailer. Once the boat is loaded onto the trailer, all passengers are required to leave the facility immediately.
Fishing Piers, Fish Cleaning Stations, Ship or bait and tackle stores:
▪ Everyone must follow social distancing guidelines at the fishing pier and stay at least 10 feet away from other people. Families who live together (spouses, domestic partners, parents/legal guardian with their children) do not have to stay 10 feet away from each other when at the fishing pier.
▪ Everyone is required to wear a facial covering — either a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose — at all times.
▪ Only one person is allowed to be at a fish cleaning station at a time and social distancing must be practiced. The stations must be cleaned with soap and water or with a disinfectant between each use.
▪ Social distancing is also required at ship or bait and tackle stores. Floor markings will be used to help customers stay at least six feet away from each other. Public restrooms will also be available.
Charter Vessels:
▪ The captain, crew and passengers are required to wear a facial covering — either a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose — at all times, including at landside and check-in locations. Everyone is also required to practice social distancing measures both on shore and on the ship.
▪ All charter vessels will have tape or other markings in place to help passengers follow social distancing guidelines while waiting in line to check in or out. Drift fishing vessels are also require to use tape or other markings on seats, vessel railings and the deck to help passengers and crew follow social distancing guidelines. “Six-pack” vessels can only carry up to four people at a time.
▪ Equipment rentals are prohibited on drift fishing boats. Anyone who wants to fish must bring their own fishing poles and tackle.
▪ Crew members who are filleting a passengers caught fish can only have one person at a table at a time. Fish cleaning and bait table stations must be cleaned with soap and water or with a disinfectant between each charter.
Boat capacity, jet ski rentals and what’s prohibited:
▪ Boats are required to remain 50 feet apart at all times. Limitations on the use of boats on-water will be enforced based on Florida law and by any law enforcement that has jurisdiction in the area.
▪ Boats less than 25 feet can have a maximum of eight people on board. Up to four of the people can be adults. The others must be children who are 17 and under.
▪ Boats between 25 and 36 feet can have a maximum of 10 people on board. Up to six of the people can be adults. The others must be children who are 17 and under.
▪ Boats greater than 36 feet can have a maximum of 10 people on board. Up to eight of the people can be adults. The others must be children who are 17 and under.
▪ Jet ski rental operations are only allowed to have single riders. The Jet skis must be sanitized upon return with CDC approved products.
▪ Tying the boat to posts or structures that are condemned or unoccupied in Stiltsville is prohibited. Gatherings of more than 10 people are also prohibited.
Golf courses: What’s allowed and what’s not
▪ Staff and players are required to wear a facial covering — either a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose — thought the coverings aren’t required for players once they step onto the first tee. Everyone is also required to follow social distancing guidelines, which means you need to stay at least six feet away from others. Shaking hands is also prohibited.
▪ Customers who are 60 years or older should be separated from the younger customers whenever possible, according to the county.
▪ All players must stay at least six feet away from others at all times. A course ranger or other staff member will be present on the course to ensure that social distancing measures are being followed.
▪ Players must bring their own golf equipment. Golf course staff will not be transporting any clubs or other equipment for you. Each cart and any rental equipment used must be cleaned and disinfected prior to any players usage. Only one player will be allowed per cart.
▪ Driving-range hitting areas will be spaced at least 10 feet apart.
▪ Rakes in all bunkers shall be removed, with bunker play recommendations varying on the course and its resources. All water stations, ball wash units, practice facility bag stands, chairs and PVC pipes for picking up balls will also be removed.
▪ Sand containers, scorecards, pencils, tees, towels, coolers or other shared materials will be removed from golf carts. Scorecard, pencils and tees will only be provided to players who request it upon arrival The items must then be discarded once the player is finished using it.
▪ Signs placed outside the golf course’s pro-shop and clubhouse will outline the required social distancing guidelines and facial covering guidelines staff and players need to follow. Signs with a phone number for food orders and an explanation of how to pay for the order will also be placed on carts and around the clubhouse.
▪ Players will not be allowed to touch anything on the beverage cart, which will be managed by staff wearing facial coverings at all times. The beverage cart attendant will place the drink on the opposite side of the players golf cart to comply with social distancing guidelines. For players who are walking, the attendant will place the purchased items on the ground for the player to pick up.
▪ Restrooms can only be used by one person or one family at a time. Hand sanitizer will also be available at all restrooms and payments areas.
▪ Players are not allowed to touch or remove the flagstick from the cup. If you notice that your ball is not going into the hole, don’t worry, it’s not you. The golf course is required to lift the cup an inch above ground or use a pool noodle or blocking mechanism to fill the hole and prevent the ball from going into it if a touchless golf ball retrieval system is not being used.
Pro shop:
▪ Display areas will be closed but players can still buy goods and supplies at the door on a walk-up basis. If good and supplies are being sold at the door:
▪ All payments must be made at the front door and players and workers must follow social distancing guidelines. Separate entry and exit doors should also be available, if possible. Markers will also be placed on the floor to help customers in line comply with social distancing guidelines.
▪ Glass or a plastic screen must be installed to separate pro-shop staff and customers. Just like customers, staff must also wear a facial covering — either a mask or fabric that covers your mouth and nose — at all times.
City Rules
All cities must follow the above rules when reopening recreational areas, but they’re free to impose stricter rules than the ones ordered by the county mayor. They also can choose to keep some or all of their parks, boat ramps, marinas and golf courses closed.
Aventura won’t reopen its parks until Monday. Hours will be limited to 9 a.m. to noon, and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. No parking will be allowed, except for senior citizens at Founders Park between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. The park is reserved for seniors one hour before its opening to the general population. Parks are only for residents with identification, and attendants will be checking parkgoers for fevers.
Coral Gables will not open neighborhood parks, but the following parks will reopen: Coral Bay Park, Country Club Prado, Ferdinand Park, Fred B. Harnett Ponce Circle Park, Ingraham Park, Jaycee Park, Phillips Park (with a senior hour Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8 a.m.), Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park, Salvadore Park, William H. Kerdyk Jr. and Family Park.
Cutler Bay will not open its parks Wednesday.
Doral will reopen just two parks: the Doral Central Park at 3000 NW 87th Ave; and the Downtown Doral Park at 8395 NW 53rd St. Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hialeah will not reopen any parks on Wednesday. “We’re not comfortable yet doing that,” Mayor Carlos Hernández said in a video message Tuesday.
Homestead will open some parks Wednesday. Restrooms will remain locked, and basketball and tennis courts will be closed. The parks set for reopening are: Blakey Park, Audubon Park, Mayor Roscoe Warren Municipal Park, James Archer Smith Park. Parking lots at the Homestead Sports Complex will be open for walking, jogging, cycling and rollerblading.
Miami does not plan to reopen parks or marinas on Wednesday, Mayor Francis Suarez said this week.
Miami Beach will keep its basketball and volleyball courts closed. But most parks — and every golf course and tennis court — will reopen Wednesday morning in lockstep with new rules handed down by the county. Most boat ramps and piers will also reopen.
Parks will open at 7 a.m. Wednesday and close at 7 p.m. Tennis courts will open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Boat ramps will open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Golf courses will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
All restrooms at parks, except at tennis centers and golf courses, will be closed. Restrooms will be limited to one person or family at a time. An attendant will be provided for each restroom, which will be cleaned no less than once every two hours.
“We will be following the county order with some minor modifications,” Mayor Dan Gelber said. “We view this as an opportunity to provide more spaces for people to exercise and still be socially distant.”
The use of 34 parks in Miami Beach is intended to be “passive” and not to exceed more than a couple hours at a time, the city’s Parks and Recreation director has said, although there is no rule against staying at the park all day.
Temporary docking at Maurice Gibb Park Boat Ramp is prohibited. South Pointe Park Pier and Maurice Gibb Park Pier will remain closed.
Indoor racquetball courts, football bleachers, the baseball stadium and soccer cage at Flamingo Park shall remain closed. The stadium and track at Flamingo Park will have a maximum occupancy of 30 people.
Only residents who are registered with the city’s residential parking program are allowed to park in the city lots at the reopened parks.
In announcing the reopening on Tuesday, the city also imposed stricter restrictions on pedestrians and others using the city’s beachwalks and baywalks, which never closed.
The following parks will remain closed:
Beach View Park, Pride Park, Scott Rakow Youth Center, 20th Street Pocket Park, Indian Beach Park, LaGorce Park, 82nd Street Skate Park, 35th Street/Pancoast Park, Washington Dog Park, Washington Park Annex.
Miami Gardens will not reopen parks Wednesday. “Resumption of normal services and operations will be done in a phased-in approach based on a constant decline in the number of positive cases in our community per CDC guidelines,” Mayor Oliver Gilbert said in a statement Tuesday night. “The City’s re-opening strategy will be premised on our ability to safeguard everyone, placing a premium on the safety and well-being of our Residents and broader community.”
Miami Lakes will reopen parks from sunrise to sunset, but basketball courts will remain closed.
Miami Springs will reopen parks Wednesday with hours that are more restrictive than the county’s. Full details are on the city website.
North Bay Village will reopen Vogel Park starting next Monday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Seniors will have exclusive use of the park from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
North Miami Beach will reopen some parks on Wednesday, from sunrise to sunset. They are: Carter Tyree Park, Corporal Howard B. Hinson Park, Dolphin Park, Donald E. Bonhan Sr. Park, Housea Sauls Park, Jack Chaiken Park, Lucenda Neal Park, Phillippe Derose Park, Martin Luther King Park, Schenkenberger Park, Snake Creek Canal Trail,Taylor Park West.
Palmetto Bay will not open its parks Wednesday.
Pinecrest will reopen its parks starting Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pinecrest Gardens will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunny Isles Beach said it does not plan to reopen parks until sometime next week.
This post was updated to clarify the face-covering rules for golf players.
Miami Herald staff writers Adriana Brasileiro, Joey Flechas and Aaron Leibowitz contributed to this report
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
