Montgomery Parks Updates Rules for Use of Athletic Facilities

Montgomery Parks Updates Rules for Use of Athletic Facilities

We reported on Montgomery Parks reinstalling the hoops across parks in the county. They should all be reinstalled soon, but recently they released other modifications to previous restrictions.

Per Montgomery Parks: 

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is modifying some of the restrictions for use of its athletic facilities based on Montgomery County’s recently amended health regulations. Montgomery County’s updated health regulations are aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 while providing a phased approach to reopening. The county’s updated guidance for sports removes “risk classifications” for different sports, and instead requires organized sports teams to obtain an approved COVID Protocol Plan from the County’s Health Officer or Health Officer designee if the activity has over 50 participants in an outdoor setting or 25 in an indoor setting. Organized sports teams previously approved by the Board of Health do not need a new COVID Protocol Plan. Sports played outside an organized league must follow Montgomery County’s social distancing and group size guidelines.

As a result of this updated guidance, Montgomery Parks has begun reinstalling the nets at all basketball courts in parks and is implementing the following guidelines:

• Outdoor field use is permitted for groups of 50 people or less, indoor sports are limited to 25 people or less.

• All organized sports teams must submit a copy of their approved COVID Protocol Plan to the Parks Permit Office at least two business days prior to the requested date of play. Teams who already have an approved COVID Protocol Plan do not need to resubmit a new one.

• Two spectators per player are allowed, up to 50 spectators, following county and CDC protocols and directives. Only with a letter of approval from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, can there be 50 spectators. Letters of approval must be requested five days before the day of play and turned over to Parks Permitting two days before the day of play.

• Groups wishing to host tournaments or championship games must submit a letter of approval from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the appropriate applications and approved waivers to Montgomery Parks’ Permit Office. Play and games with teams from outside of Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia is prohibited.

• Use of athletic facilities will be monitored by M-NCPPC staff to ensure teams and spectators adhere to the guidelines.

Organized sports teams must obtain a permit from Montgomery Parks. Permits are offered on a first-come, first served basis and are required for use of any recreational/regional field. For local fields, permits are not required, but recommended, as non-permitted users must relinquish the field to permit holders. Permits are available via ActiveMontgomery.org or by applying to www.parkpermits.org. For more information, call 301-495-2525.

About The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Montgomery Parks Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 424 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.MontgomeryParks.org

Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or [email protected] to request a disability modification. Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/access for more information.