COVID-19 Updates

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Details: Last Updated: 03 March 2021

We have numerous cancellations and other modifications to our programs and services. The situation for each could change daily so be sure to check back before making plans to visit any currently open park or venue. We appreciate your understanding at this time.

COVID-19 Updates

Group Picnic Permits and Ballfield Rentals

Reservations for the 2021 season are now available.
All groups will be required to follow current Covid-19 guidelines at the time of their events including but not limited to capacity, social distancing and mask wearing.
Picnicking, including outdoor pavilions, is allowed at the following parks:
- Blue Mountain Reservation, Peekskill
- Croton Gorge, Cortlandt
- Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson
- George’s Island Park, Montrose
- Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla (reservations not required)
- V.E. Macy Park, Ardsley
- Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale
- Saxon Woods Park, White Plains
- Sprain Ridge Park, Yonkers
- Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River
- Willson’s Woods Park, Mount Vernon
Phone reservations only. To make a reservation, rental fees or more information go to our Group Picnic Reservations or Call (914) 231-4575. (Open normal hours for phone calls only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday) Please note that Glen Island is not available for reservations.
Ballfield Rentals (Baseball) (Season begins March, 2021)
- V.E. Macy Park baseball fields utilizing schedule developed in January/February.
- Croton Point Park baseball field utilizing schedule developed in January/February.
- Limited availability may be available. Check with the Parks permit office (914) 231-4575.
- The field usage will be for Westchester County resident groups, organization or clubs. No Individual rentals.
- Safety plans, protocols and procedures must be submitted by organizations in advance.

Ballfield Rentals (Soccer) (Season begins March, 2021)
- Soccer turf fields at Saxon Woods and Tibbetts Brook Parks utilizing schedule developed in January/February.
- Soccer grass fields at Croton Point, Tibbetts Brook and V.E. Macy Parks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Limited availability may be available. Check with the Parks permit office (914) 231-4575.
- The field usage will be for Westchester County resident groups, organizations or clubs. No individual rentals.
- Safety plans, protocols and procedures must be submitted by organizations in advance.

Available Events

Volunteer Groups – Various park locations and dates through Westchester Parks Foundation. Groups of 10 or fewer following social distancing protocols. Pre-registration required, volunteer today.
Nature Centers – Fall Conservation Programs.

Playgrounds

Playgrounds open daily at Blue Mountain, Croton Gorge, Croton Point, George's Island, Kensico Dam Plaza, Ridge Road, Sprain Ridge, Saxon Woods, V.E. Macy, Tibbetts Brook, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, and Willson's Woods. As part of “Playground Safe,” parents and guardians choosing to allow children to use playground equipment are asked to follow these guidelines:

Do not visit if you are sick, tested positive for COVID-19, or were recently (within 14 days) exposed to COVID-19.
Do not use the playground if it appears crowded.
Do wear a mask if you are over the age of two and able to medically tolerate when not able to maintain social distance.
Do maintain at least six feet social distance from people you don’t live with.
Do bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Playgrounds sanitized twice daily.

Camping

Please Note: We are not accepting camping reservations/campers from the New York State quarantine list.

Croton Point Park

RV and tent camping currently open for rental.
Limited availability due to social distancing protocols.

Mountain Lakes Park

Lean-to and tent camping only.
Limited availability due to social distancing protocols.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Lean-to and tent camping rentals.
Limited availability due to social distancing protocols, and continuing construction of Lean-to areas.

Open Parks and Areas

Ballfield Rentals for Baseball and Soccer – (Details listed in "Group Picnic Permits and Ballfield Rentals" section.)
Boat launching – ramp at George's Island Park, Wampus Pond self-launching only. (in season)
Camping – (Details listed in "Camping" section.)
County Center – East and North White Plains parking lots. Fee information.
Golf Courses – Closed for the Season, reopens in Spring 2021. (Details listed in "Golf Courses" section.)
Kayak Rentals – Go to Hudson River Recreation and click on "Book Now" to see availability in season and beyond.
Miniature Golf Courses: (Social distancing protocols followed. Weather permitting.)
- Playland – Closed for Season
- Saxon Woods Park – Closed for Season
- Tibbetts Brook Park – Closed for Season
Muscoot Farm – Trails, parking and pathway to the pasture overlook area are open. (Grounds are open, but buildings are closed.)
Outdoor Public Areas
- Parks – except Glen Island
- Conservation – Bronx River Reservation Pathway - Dog Den in White Plains open (seasonal with abbreviated hours and menu during the winter), Lasdon, Merestead, Muscoot - Food Concession opened weekends, Nature Centers, North County Trailway including Birdsall Road in Yorktown, South County Trailway and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
- Grills* – both reserved and public. (Details listed in "Group Picnic Permits and Ballfield Rentals" section.) (Except Glen Island)
- Kensico Dam Plaza
- Playgrounds (Details listed in "Playgrounds" section.)
- Playland – Boardwalk, Seaside Walk and Dog Beach.
- Parking lots – may close intermittently on high-volume days.
- Pavilions* – (Details listed in "Group Picnic Permits and Ballfield Rentals" section.) (Except Glen Island)
Parking Fees – $5 w/park pass; $10 without. Ward Pound Ridge, daily through mid-October; weekends only mid-October through mid-May.
Park Passes Issued – Park Passes are temporarily unavailable at the golf courses and Blue Mountain Sportsman Center as they are closed. Croton Point passes available daily, Monday-Sunday (except holidays), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Ward Pound Ridge TBD) Social distancing protocols will be followed.
Parks Department administrative offices at 450 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley. No public entry.
Picnic Reservations* – (Details listed in "Group Picnic Permits and Ballfield Rentals" section.)
Ribbons of Remembrance – A temporary memorial for residents who have been lost to COVID-19. Please note, the memorial has moved indoors to the Main Floor of the County Office Building on 148 Martine Avenue in White Plains for the winter. While the memorial will no longer be housed outdoors, members of the public are still free to add names in its new location during normal business hours.
Sportsman Center/Ranges – open during regular operating hours. Minimal number of guests inside office at one time. (in season)
Public restrooms – Where available and have direct entrance/exit.
Tennis courts – Tibbetts Brook Park (in season).
Twin Lakes Farm – Owners with boarded horses, public lessons, day camps.

*All groups will be required to follow current Covid-19 guidelines at the time of their events including but not limited to capacity, social distancing and mask wearing.

Golf Courses

All six Westchester County golf courses are closed for the season. See you in 2021!
The following Service Modifications will apply when the golf courses open for the 2021 Golf Season.

Driving Ranges – open (in season)
Golfers are asked to check in early for tee times.
A minimal number of guests are allowed inside pro shops at one time. Plexiglass is installed in front of cashier areas.
Golf carts are washed and sanitized after each use. Two people per cart if they have been quarantining together. If not, one person per cart with the option of two bags permitted per cart, with one person driving and the second person waking, alternating driving/walking. Additional golf carts have been distributed to courses. Pull carts are available; golfers who can are encouraged to walk.
Tee times have longer intervals between them and there is a reduction of hours of operation.
An insert has been installed in holes so that flagsticks do not have to be touched and should not be removed. No raking of bunkers.
Rakes, ball washers and coolers have been removed from course.
Golfers are instructed to not gather in groups or clusters while on or off the golf course.
Restaurants – Open for Indoor, outdoor and take-out service. New York State social distancing protocols will be followed including 50% capacity of outdoor and indoor use. (Dates vary, check restaurant schedule, some only open in season.)
Halfway houses and refreshment carts available. (in season)
Park Passes – Available at all six golf courses. Open daily, Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Social distancing protocols will be followed. (in season)

Cancelled and Postponed Events

Cancelled Events

Programming* in parks – No scheduling until further notice. For example, friends groups, walkathons and Mall Walks at The Westchester.
County Center (closed) – No events, programs and bookings, until further notice.

*See “Available Events” Section for exceptions.

Postponed Events

Stars of Doo-Wop and Rock n Roll – County Center from Saturday, July 18 postponed until Saturday, April 17, 2021.

Closed Parks and Areas

Basketball Courts – V.E. Macy and Tibbetts Brook Parks
County Center – Building/facilities and West Parking Lot closed until further notice.
Glen Island Park and Beach – until further notice.
Indoor Facilities – affected facilities at Parks, Nature Centers, Muscoot and Lasdon.
Permit Office – 450 Saw Mill River Rd. (open normal hours for phone calls only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. New group picnic reservations for the 2021 season are now available.)
Playland Amusement Park – Closed for 2020.
Playland Ice Casino – Until further notice.
Westchester Children’s Museum (Playland)

Public Engagement Websites and Social Media

Curator videos – Cranberry’s “Animal Thursdays,” Beekeeping at Lenoir, Read: beehive instillation, beehive observation, shadbush, trees, sounds/water, fossil dig, solitary bees.
Educational Videos – North American River Otters at Trailside, Trail cameras at Read, Research project at Read, Sounds at Cranberry.
Lasdon Park – Scavenger Hunt with smartphone needed; flower and tree plantings.
Muscoot Farm – Mondays and Fridays: Storytime, animal education, cooking and crafts.
#NatureInWestchester – take photos while in our parks and share on Instagram for digital gallery.
Nature Activity Sheets – Printable coloring and work sheets.
Nature Origami – Nature Origami printouts from Cranberry Lake Preserve’s program.
Playland Playhouse – interactive games
- Coaster the Dragon's Match Up
- Word Search
- Hide N' Seek
- What’s Different
- Which Ride are You
- Coaster's Shuffle
Scavenger Hunts – Printable sheets: Cranberry, Lenoir, Marshlands, Read, Croton, Trailside and Muscoot.
Spotify – County Parks Playlists for social distance walking/jogging.
- “I’ve Got Sunshine in My Pocket”
- “Don’t It Feel Good”
- “Playland Concert Series” parts one and two
- “Summer Solstice.”
Zoom – Westchester County Parks virtual backgrounds for Zoom teleconferencing.

General Information

Park users: practice safe social distancing.
Practicing safe social distancing is the most important action that will help to keep our parks open.
Practice good hygiene by appropriately washing hands.
Although we continue to sanitize our parks and make every effort to provide a healthy environment, please make responsible decisions, based on your personal risk profile, on whether to expose yourself to others.
We continue to monitor all recommendations and will implement as necessary. If you, a family member or someone you have been in touch with has respiratory symptoms, particularly fever, do not visit.

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