Some Maricopa parks and recreational facilities to reopen this weekend (VIDEO)

The city of Maricopa will begin this weekend to reopen parks and recreational facilities closed or restricted as part of the public health response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Residents can expect the following facilities to reopen in the next couple of days:

• The dog park
• Ramadas and shade structures to provide protection from the sun and heat
• Playgrounds and skate park
• Tennis and pickleball courts
• Athletic fields, with the exception of baseball and softball fields at Copper Sky
• Resumption of all curbside library services

The majority of the facilities will open by close of business Friday, and all facilities will be open by Sunday with a few possible exceptions, including the dog park, the city said.

“We have been using this time to make repairs to the dog park to include new irrigation and drinking water at both pet and human fountains,” the city said in its announcement late Thursday afternoon. “We hope these limited openings will provide a positive outlet for the residents of Maricopa.”

The city also will be scheduling Drive-In Movie Nights, with guests remaining in their cars with distancing requirements in place.

All restrooms will remain closed.

“I have been advocating for this for weeks, so I am happy we found a way to make it happen!” said Councilmember Vincent Manfredi. “I trust that our residents will remember to adhere to social distancing, use hand sanitizer and if possible to wear a mask. The City of Maricopa is moving forward and trying to get back to normalcy. It will take months before we are back 100%, but it is a start.”

The city said it reserves the right to close any facility if patrons ignore or refuse to follow established rules governing public safety as set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Office of the Governor.

Councilmember Vincent Manfredi is minority owner of InMaricopa.