Elsie Gerhart, 6, and her brother, Jude, 3, take a ride on the purple dinosaur at Alameda Park playground Monday morning. They were with their mother, Shawna Gerhart of Butler Township. Tim Clavert, aquatics director at the park, said maintenance crews are sanitizing the playground at least once a day. The playground opened Friday after being closed due to COVID-19.

Summer for children is officially underway with the opening of playgrounds in Butler, Butler Township and at the county's Alameda Park.

City playgrounds and the playground at Alameda Park opened Friday when the county moved into the state's green reopening phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Summer's here, kids want to go out and play,” said city Councilman Jeff Smith, director of parks, recreation and public property. “It's pretty much back to normal. There is still some social distancing, but for the most part they're open for the kids.”

Some other coronavirus restrictions also were lifted at city parks.

The 25-person limit at the skate park at Father Marinaro Park was changed to 90, which is full capacity, Smith said.

Basketball courts at all city parks are now open to full capacity of 40 people per court. Previously, capacity was limited to 10 people, and organized games were not permitted.

Games are also now permitted on the baseball, softball and football fields at Father Marinaro, Whippo Avenue and Memorial parks with no more than 90 people, including spectators, in attendance.

Tennis courts are open for single and doubles play with a 15-minute buffer between groups of participants.

Picnic shelters can be reserved, and social distancing of 6 to 15 feet remains in effect for walkers and bicycle riders.

The city's 10-week summer recreation program begins Monday at Rotary Park, Institute Hill Playground, Memorial Park and Father Marinaro Park for school-aged children. The program 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.In Butler Township, Preston Park never closed and the other two parks — Butler Township Park and Lohner Park — opened June 1.“All of our parks are open,” said Tom Knights, township manager.Organized activities are not permitted at playgrounds in the township and Lohner parks, he said.Alameda Park has been busy since it opened Friday afternoon, said Lance Welliver, director of the county department of parks and recreation.“The playground opened up this past weekend,” Welliver said. “As soon as we opened, it started picking up, and it's been busy ever since.”The park and picnic shelters opened May 30, and Camp Alameda opened Monday. Camp reservations can be made online, in person or by mail. A variety of camps is available over 11 weeks ending Aug. 17, Welliver said.The waterpark is scheduled to open July 1.

Vince Slomers, 20, a nursing student at Butler County Community College, spent down time at Father Marinaro Park skateboarding Monday afternoon.