- April 17, 2024
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Ormond Beach opened bathrooms at Andy Romano Beachfront Park when it reopened on Saturday, May 2. Supermarkets and gas station bathrooms are open.
So why are bathrooms closed at county beach parks?
That’s a question several County Council members asked at their meeting on Tuesday, May 5.
County Manager George Recktenwald said it’s because they were confined spaces and that the county had to hire porters to make sure the restrooms were cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.
“They’re definitely an area of concern,” Recktenwald said. “We’re working on what we could do and what we could support to sanitize them.”
County Councilwoman Heather Post said that the county will need to address the issue soon. This coming Sunday, May 10, is Mother’s Day — it’s likely many families will be out on the beach with their children.
“If Ormond can do it, we can do it,” Post said.
County Council Chair Ed Kelley said he’d like to see the restrooms open this week. Recktenwald said that what he would suggest in the meantime is for people to consider the length of time spent at the beach. While they are open, people should still limit travel because COVID-19 is still active in the community.
County Councilwoman Billie Wheeler said opening up bathrooms by Mother’s Day would be great.
“Let’s make it a good Mother’s Day if we can and do whatever we can to get those open,” she said.
Beaches were busy over the weekend, said Beach Safety Director Ray Manchester. A total of 944 warnings for physical distancing violations were issued, 98 people were rescued from the ocean and the three ADA access ramps saw a total of 463 vehicles on May 2-3.
Concessions are also allowed back on the beach.
The city of Ormond Beach has reopened Nova Community Park and all basketball courts, effective Monday, May 4.
The outdoor tennis and pickleball courts are also open for single play only. However, the large pavilion at Nova Community Park is still closed, as well as all playgrounds and the fitness equipment at Fortunato Park.
The skate park is currently only open 4-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
All city facilities are closed to city-sponsored athletics and public or private events and activities until May 8.
Ormond Beach is currently the second county with the most census count responses at 64.4%, trailing behind DeBary’s 68.6% total responses, according to a tweet by the city.
Of Ormond’s percentage, 49.9% of the census count comes from internet responses. Visit 2020census.gov
At its May 12 meeting, the City Commission will vote to award a bid to Sanderson Concrete Construction for the upcoming Riviera Park parking improvement project.
It will be funded through a Community Development Block grant.
