Executive Order 2020-034: Supplemental Declaration of Municipal Emergency - Open Public Recreation

Supplemental Declaration of Municipal Emergency
Executive Order 2020-034
June 22, 2020

WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, issued Executive Order 2020-004 declaring a state of municipal emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19; and 

WHEREAS, the East Providence City Council ratified the Declaration of Municipal Emergency at a meeting on March 17, 2020 and authorized its extension through July 8, 2020; and

WHEREAS, on March 27, 2020, Mayor DaSilva issued Executive Order 2020-012 which closed all public playgrounds, fields, recreation areas, and parks in the City of East Providence; and 

WHEREAS, the peak of the number of positive cases for COVID-19 has passed in the state of Rhode Island, and it is necessary to allow residents to actively recreate in public parks and fields.   

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of East Providence, pursuant to the Rhode Island General Laws and the Home Rule Charter of the City of East Providence, do hereby order and direct the following: 

Section 1:

The prohibition against the use of amenities available within public parks, fields, playgrounds, and recreation areas within the City of East Providence as directed in Executive Order 2020-023 is hereby repealed: 

1. Basketball courts, skate parks, and tennis courts and other areas used for active recreation shall be open for use by the public under the restrictions of Section 2 of this Order.
2. Any group gathering for the purpose of using basketball courts, skate parks, tennis courts or other areas used for active recreation must remain in stable groups, and are strongly encouraged not recreate with others outside of their group.  

Section 2:

All persons visiting East Providence public parks, fields, or recreation areas shall follow the proper social distancing guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rhode Island Department of Health, and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. These provisions include but are not limited to:

1. Maintaining a distance of six feet (6’) or more from other persons whenever possible.
2. Not congregating in groups of more than fifteen persons.
3. Wearing a mask or cloth face covering if social distancing cannot be maintained.

This Order shall take effect immediately, and remain in full force and effect unless further extended.