The skate park, basketball courts and athletic fields at the City of Butler's parks are open under COVID-19 restrictions, and the city's summer youth recreation program is set to begin June 15.

Playgrounds remain closed except for groups in summer programs.

“People have been really good, for the most part, about sticking to the new rules and I'm glad we're able to do more,” said Councilman Jeff Smith, director of parks, recreation and public property. “I would expect in the next week or so we'll have some additional changes. Hopefully, we'll be able to open up the playgrounds.”

The city opened its parks, tennis courts and picnic shelters on May 15 when the county moved to the yellow reopening phase under the state's color-coded system.

Gov. Tom Wolf and the Department of Health issued guidelines for opening summer recreation programs, camps and swimming pools on May 22.

The Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society, a nonprofit organization that works with municipal and state parks, recreation facilities and recreation therapists, sent the guidelines to the city, Smith said.

He said he was surprised the skate park at Father Marinaro Park initially wasn't allowed to open in the yellow phase, but the new guidance permits the city to open it.

“Since this opened it up a little more, we were glad to update our park rules,” Smith said.

All city parks have basketball courts. Father Marinaro Park, Whippo Avenue playground and Memorial Park have softball and football fields.

Organized games at basketball courts and softball and football fields are not permitted, but small groups and families can use them casually. Up to 10 people can practice shooting on the courts and families can use the fields.

“You can't really have a game, but you can shoot around. Same with softball. Nothing organized can happen,” Smith said.

No more than 25 people can skate at the skate park.

Camp organizers that use the playgrounds are expected to clean and disinfect the equipment, he said.

The 10-week summer recreation program held at Rotary Park, Institute Hill Playground, Memorial Park and Father Marinaro Park for school-aged children runs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is once again being run by the Grace Youth and Family Foundation of Butler, which places two staff members at each park.

The program includes recreational activities, games, arts and crafts, and education.

Meals will not be served.

Instead, the Butler Area School District will continue providing meals through a food service waiver it received from the state Department of Education. Parents pick up meals at schools and take them home.

“The number of families that are being fed by the school district isn't going to change. The school will continue to provide those meals throughout the summer so there is no reason to interrupt that,” said Bill Halle, founder and CEO of Grace Youth and Family Foundation and a school board member.

An enhanced educational component from the district is being added to the program.

“We're working with the district to provide additional education opportunities to give them a leg up on the next school year,” Halle said.

Games and other active learning activities will be used to teach math and books will be available for students who want to read over the summer, he said.

The foundation is trying to raise money to pay for buses to take kids from the parks to the Alameda Park swimming pool again this year, he said.

About 250 children participate in the program every year, but Halle said it is not a day care program.

“We're so thankful for the city in tight budget times to make this happen. We're so grateful to the school district for providing education opportunities for kids,” Halle said. “Kids need activities this summer after being closed in for months.”

He said people wishing to donate to the foundation to help run the program should mail checks to the foundation at 100 Center Ave., Butler PA, 16001 and write “summer program” on memo line.