By RICHIE HALL
There have been several big events going on at Grand Park this week, with more to come this summer, so things are starting to get back to normal there.
Of course, this is a “new” normal. The facility, like many others, was effectively shut down for nearly three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These shutdowns have been difficult, but it’s been even more acute at a place like Grand Park, which is usually buzzing with athletes and spectators year-round.
So, all this activity has been a welcome sight. But since people are starting to come back and gather again, necessary precautions are being taken when it comes to safety and sanitizing the campus.
William Knox, Director of Grand Park, said that the facility is working in accordance to guidelines it’s been given by the governor’s office, the CDC and other authorities.
“We’re definitely taking a lot of precautions,” said Knox. That includes simple things, like make sure spectators are practicing social distancing while watching games, and that athletes are doing the same when they are not playing.
William Knox
In addition, there is a regular wiping down of all the high-touch points at the park. Knox said that includes a wipe down of all the bathroom fixtures and everything around the concession stands.
“Most of the activity is outdoors, so we don’t really have doors or things like that,” said Knox. “If there’s any equipment that’s being touched during those different games, going and spraying that down as well. We just want to make sure that anything that is touched, or people come in contact with, is all sterilized to the best of our ability.”
Blake Hibler is the president of Bullpen Tournaments, which frequently conducts tournaments at Grand Park. He is also in charge of sanitization, which is helped by eight electrostatic foggers that the facility bought to aid the cleaning process.
“So after each activity, we’ll come out and fog and spray down every piece of metal and do all the bathrooms,” said Hibler. Workers also walk around with a typical sanitization spray, with three people per quad spraying even 15 minutes, in addition to wiping down every high-use area.
Cleaning is only half the battle, though. The athletes and spectators must do their part with social distancing. Knox believes that seems to be going well so far.
“I think for the most part, a lot of people understand the situation we’re in and where we are today,” said Knox. “If they’re with their family members, then obviously they can be a little closer together, but they don’t co-mingle with other families. It is working. We’ve put some markings out on the sidewalks and paths and the spectator areas just so people can really see where they need to be. But yes, for the most part we think it’s working out well so far.”
Hibler said that people must be educated when it comes to social distancing, which means having to change set habits and other parts of the tournaments, such as canceling indoor activities.
“I think we’re all so accustomed with what we do, especially in baseball,” said Hibler. “We’re outdoors. We’re happy. And we’re just excited to be back around people that you have to educate these people and kids especially. They’re going to go to school and they got to learn how to do it now before they get into an indoor building and there’s a spike or whatever. They have to learn how to manage their expectations of what they can and can’t do.”
Things may be different, but Grand Park is back. While some events were canceled, Knox said that the facility has picked up a few events for this summer and is hoping to get back to a normal sense of activity by the end of June.
“We have picked up activity and we’re still working with some groups to potentially bring some more activity to the campus,” said Knox.
William Knox