Coronavirus update: YMCA, CRPR cancel programs and Penn State closes recreation centers
Update: Nittany Valley Sports Centre postponed all regularly scheduled programs through March 20. Details on makeup dates remain under consideration.
In effort to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, local athletics and recreation organizations are taking action.
The YMCA of Centre County announced Friday that it’s canceling all programs effective Saturday through March 30. However, all child care programs, including Child Watch, will continue and its facilities will remain open until further notice.
“We will continue to monitor this situation as it unfolds and make updates to our daily schedules as necessary,” the announcement, posted to the organization’s website, read. “We appreciate your understanding as we navigate the challenges this virus has brought to our community.”
Penn State has closed all its campus recreation facilities, programs and services effective at 2 p.m. Friday through April 6, when in-person classes are set to resume. Those closures include the Intramural Building, White Building, Hepper Fitness Center at Rec Hall, McCoy Natatorium and West Fields.
Access to the Stone Valley Outdoor Recreation Area in Petersburg, Huntingdon County, will remain open, the university said in a release.
“Best practices to avoid contracting the coronavirus, such as social distancing and maintaining hygiene would be challenging in campus fitness areas, pools, gymnasiums and other facilities,” the release said.
Before Gov. Tom Wolf’s Friday order for all schools in Pennsylvania to close for two weeks starting Monday, the State College Area School District had already made the decision to cancel class until March 20, as well as all extra- and co-curricular activities. SCASD also decided to close all district facilities for community use during that time.
That decision has affected several groups that planned to use those facilities for athletic purposes next week.
The Pennsylvania Middle School State Basketball Championships, which was scheduled to take place scheduled to take place at several Centre County facilities including those owned by SCASD, other local school districts and C3 Sports in College Township March 20-22, has been officially postponed.
The executive board is looking to reschedule the championships weekend for its 207 teams at some other time this spring or summer.
Centre Region Parks and Recreation canceled all swim lessons scheduled to start Monday and Tuesday due to the closure of State College Area High School’s natatorium. It also postponed its Adult Volleyball League, Adult Indoor Soccer, Puddle Jumpers, Step Interval Cardio & Weight Training and Zumba classes until the school district reopens.
CRPR is instituting a temporary refund policy to program registrants, and will extend the schedule for the delayed programs.
The Active Adult Center will also be closed for two weeks starting Wednesday, and all the center’s spring programs will be canceled due to the vulnerability of the 55 and over community, CRPR said in an update posted to its website. Meal service will be available for those who rely on lunches at the center.
Little League International, which operates more than 6,500 programs in more than 84 countries, is recommending all leagues implement a temporary suspension of all activities — including meetings, practices and games — until no earlier than April 6.
Local leagues, such as the Nittany Valley Little League and Bellefonte Little League, are complying with the international organization’s recommendation. Bellefonte also canceled its field workday planned for Saturday.
The Nittany Valley Sports Centre at 177 Champion Drive in Patton Township is operating under business as usual, according to a Thursday Facebook post. However, some individual events planned for the facility have canceled.
“As for the facility itself, our janitorial supplies are more than adequately stocked with disinfectants, soaps and sanitizers and our cleaning protocols have been enhanced to include more frequent cleaning of surfaces and equipment that are touched by human hands,” the statement read. “Additionally, we are posting additional reminder notices regarding hygiene for guests and staff and all supervisors of youth programs are verbally instructing all children on proper hygiene and hand-washing.”
Several local sports groups, such as Penn United Soccer Academy, are housed out of the NVSC. According to a Thursday post, Penn United programming, training sessions and games are set to continue as planned. Any changes or cancellations to specific programs will be communicated directly by coaches or someone associated with the program.
C3 Sports State College, located 200 Ellis Place facility in College Township, has announced changes to several events that were set to be held at its complex in the coming weeks. In addition to the suspension of the state middle school basketball tournament, the Penn State PowWow, set for April 24-26, has been canceled. While Saturday’s Open Bounce Day will continue for the parties already scheduled, it will no longer be open to the general public.
Port Matilda-based youth basketball program Hoop Stars is delaying the start of its season until at least March 23.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Friday that all public programs, events and trainings in state parks and forests have been canceled through April. With the exception of three parks in Montgomery County, however, DCNR facilities will remain open.
“As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, we want to assure our visitors that their health and safety is a primary concern,” Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a statement. “We are taking extra precaution by canceling group activities in an effort to minimize the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19, while still allowing visitors access to the recreation and beautiful outdoor places, including fishing during the upcoming trout season, that can help their physical and mental health.”
Fishing will continue to be allowed at the open parks, as the start of trout season nears on April 4, and overnight accommodation for tent camping, cabins and cottages will remain open.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, Pennsylvania has 35 presumptive positive cases and six confirmed in 11 different counties.
What did we miss? Changes are happening by the minute. Please help keep us up-to-date by emailing any other closings, cancellations or suspensions to lmuthler@centredaily.com.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 5:44 PM.
