From the onset of the pandemic, the Park District has regularly adjusted operations based on the latest guidance provided by governing agencies. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and State of Illinois have recently relaxed guidance on face coverings as more residents have become vaccinated.
Governor Pritzker released Executive Order 2021-10 on Monday, May 17, 2021, which states that fully-vaccinated people “can resume numerous activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart”, and provides updated requirements for various entities. As the Park District is a multi-faceted unit of government, this Order impacts us differently depending on the facility or program referenced.
Effective immediately, fully-vaccinated people participating in select programs or visiting some facilities may do so without wearing a mask and without socially distancing from others who are fully-vaccinated. You are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the administration of the final course of your vaccine — 14 days after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or 14 days after the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
People who are not fully-vaccinated should continue to wear masks and socially distance; exceptions continue for those with qualified medical conditions and those under 2 years of age.
Facilities at this time that will allow fully-vaccinated individuals to enter without a mask include:
- Courts Plus*
- Wilder Mansion
- Wilder Park Conservatory
- Sugar Creek Golf Course
- The Hub batting cages and miniature golf (as long as you can social distance)
- Administrative office
- Maintenance facility
Individuals who are not fully-vaccinated must continue to wear a mask in the above scenarios.
Staff will not be checking vaccination cards, per the Governor’s current Executive Order. Signage at the entrances of our facilities will state that by entering the facility without a mask, the patron is verifying truthfully that they are fully-vaccinated.
Instructors of programs involving children under the age of 12 will continue to wear masks whether they are vaccinated or not.
Programs and Facilities that Still Require Masks
Until further guidance is received, masks are still required for everyone in the following facilities and programs:
- Programs serving children under 12 - Including all programs at the Wagner Community Center
- *Youth and adult sports including indoor tennis and martial arts at Courts Plus and those using park district fields – Staff is currently awaiting updated guidelines from the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
- Preschool programs – Based on guidelines from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
- Summer Camp programs – Staff is currently awaiting updated guidelines from DCEO
- Swimming Pools - Staff is currently awaiting updated guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
- Spray ground – At this time, masks are required to enter the spray ground and any time you are not in the water. Staff is currently awaiting updated guidelines from IDPH.
All participants and visitors, fully-vaccinated or not, will need to continue to monitor their symptoms for COVID-19 and refrain from visiting any of our facilities or participating in any programs when they have symptoms. Please review the CDC's Participant Wellness Screening Checklist prior to each visit.
We acknowledge this change in operations, while welcome by many, may be concerning to others. Please remember, vaccinated individuals can always choose to continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing if they are more comfortable doing so. We ask that you are respectful of other’s decisions, and realize wearing a mask while visiting a Park District facility or participating in a program is not an indication of a person’s vaccination status.
When we receive further direction from the regulatory agencies listed above, we will communicate and make adjustments to operations as soon as possible.
These rules are subject to change as the state and Centers for Disease Control continue to issue additional guidance.
Thank you for your continued support of the Elmhurst Park District!
