To provide life enhancing experiences for people of all abilities to recreate, belong and thrive.
For Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation COVID19 Updates please visit: https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Pages/Covid-19-Guidance.aspx
Using recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Mecklenburg County Public Health as our guide, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has established the following criteria to limit and slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our programs and facilities.
It remains our sincere desire to work with each member of the community to provide programs and services during this challenging time. Our Therapeutic Recreation Assessment and Requests for Modification process (if needed), are essential in ensuring safe and successful participation for all participants in our programs. Annual assessments are required for participation in Therapeutic Recreation programs. You may contact a Therapeutic Recreation staff member or email: TRInfo@mecknc.gov to set up an assessment appointment.
Please contact our Senior Manager of Therapeutic Recreation Kristina Cudney at Kristina.Cudney@MeckNC.gov if you have any questions about how we are providing programs and services during the COVID19 pandemic.
Functional Criteria and Eligibility Standards for Participation in Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Programs, Activities and Services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19, the illness caused by the “novel coronavirus”, is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily through the air by coughing or sneezing, person-to-person contact including touching and shaking hands or through touching your nose, mouth or eyes before washing your hands. The World Health Organization (WHO), The Center for Disease Control (CDC), and additional Federal, State and local health agencies recommend social distancing as one of the means to limit or slow the spread of the virus. Complications of COVID-19 may include severe illness, long term or permanent disabilities, worsening of existing chronic medical conditions or death. Your participation in Mecklenburg County programs or accessing Mecklenburg County facilities could increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. Mecklenburg County in no way warrants that COVID-19 exposure or infection will not occur through your participation in Mecklenburg County programs or accessing Mecklenburg County facilities.
Due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation will be following the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Executive Order from the North Carolina’s Office of the Governor and the Mecklenburg County Department of Health to limit and slow the spread of this virus.
These recommendations include: 1) Maintaining a social distance of at least 6 feet; 2) limiting group sizes to 25 people or less, 3) limiting contact with people who are sick; 4) covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing; 5) cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces; 6) avoiding touching others, including shaking hands, fist bumps or hugging; 7) limiting shared use items; 8) frequently washing hands with soap and water; and 9) wear cloth face masks.
Due to these recommendations and our sincere desire to limit and slow the spread of the virus, the following functional requirements for all programs are in effect. By participating you agree to comply with the requirements below and understand and accept the consequences of your participation.
All participants acknowledge and agree to the following:
• Maintain a safe social distance of a minimum of six (6) feet from staff, other participants and members of the general public.
• Perform all personal care including but not limited to toileting, feeding and changing of clothing without assistance of MCPRD staff, volunteers or other participants.
• Self-administer medications needed during programs to include but not limited to placing medication in mouth, applying medicated patch, utilizing a rescue inhaler or utilizing an Epinephrine injection for anaphylaxis reactions without assistance of MCPRD staff, volunteers or other participants.
• Practice positive hygiene related to handwashing and personal cleanliness including the ability to wash hands with soap and water and dry hands after washing without assistance of MCPRD staff, volunteers or other participants.
• Self-Manage behaviors and reactions to a variety of situations that may elicit various emotional responses without the physical intervention of MCPRD staff, volunteers or other participants.
• Wear a face mask that covers the mouth and nose, to reduce the risk of disease transmission
• Understand that MCPRD staff, volunteers or other participants will wear face masks that cover the lower portion of the individual’s face
Functional criteria and eligibility standards will be applied to all Park and Recreation programs until the recommendations related to COVID-19 have been removed or reduced. If a participant is registered for a program and the participant does not have the ability to follow the functional criteria and eligibility standards, the participant will be removed from the program.
Please contact Kristina Cudney at (704)301-3036 or Kristina.Cudney@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov, if you have any questions regarding the Functional Criteria and Eligibility Standards.
To request a modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact staff at 980-314-1192 or email TRInfo@MeckNC.gov
Mecklenburg County Public Health encourages all eligible residents ages 12 and older to get a free COVID-19 vaccination.