Reopening of Athletic Fields - Phase 1 Reopening

On Monday, Governor Baker unveiled his “Reopening Massachusetts” plan which announced a phased reopening plan for the state.      

Non-contact sports are now permitted at Athletic Fields and certain types of Athletic Courts under the Phase I Reopening Plan.

There is some specific guidance for Outdoor Recreation that allows a limited use of certain Athletic Fields and Athletic Courts issued by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) COVID-19 Guidance Documents and that is available on the Governor’s office’s webpage at:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/executive-office-of-energy-and-environ...

 That Guidance is as follows: 

Athletic Fields and Non-Contact Courts (Non-Organized/Permitted Use) 

Athletic fields and athletic courts can be utilized only for non-contact sports, with no shared equipment, such as tennis and pickleball. No permits should be issued for group gatherings and users should not engage in pick-up games, organized games or tournaments. 

1. Athletic Fields Guidelines: 

• Users should sanitize hands before and after play, not share equipment, and clean and wipe down equipment. 

• When engaged in play, users should avoid touching other users’ equipment in separate areas. 

• Users waiting to utilize a section or area of the field should wait outside the field of play until previous users have vacated the facility to ensure proper social distancing and prevent accidental contact of other users’ equipment. 

• Users should not engage in pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments. 

2. Athletic Courts (Non-Contact) Guidelines:  

• Users should sanitize hands before and after play, not share equipment and clean and wipe down equipment, including racquets, balls, and water bottles. 

• Users waiting to utilize a court should wait outside the court’s gates/fence until previous users have vacated the facility to ensure proper social distancing and prevent accidental contact of other users’ equipment. 

• Users should not engage in pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments 

It’s my view that “non-contact sports” are best defined as any sport in which the players are (1) physically separated (2) such as to make it nearly impossible for them to make physical contact during the course of a game.     Examples that come to mind include:  tennis, badminton, golf, croquet, running, sprinting, track and field events, gymnastics and rowing. 

It’s also my view that “Contact sports” where athletes routinely make contact with each other or with inanimate objects but usually with less force than in collision include, basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball, and softball.     Contact sports also include sports where collisions are a part of the game and include boxing, wrestling, martial arts, football, rugby, lacrosse and roller and ice hockey, etc.  

The following is a listing of Athletic Fields and Athletic Courts that I believe should be open for NON-CONTACT SPORTS and SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTION ON PICK-UP GAMES, ORGANIZED GAMES, OR TOURNAMENTS as soon as resources are in place to monitor social distancing and assure proper hygiene: 

(1) Peter Igo Park for Tennis, Pickleball, Rowing and Kayaking for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(2) Tower Ave for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(3) Waterfront Park off of Dribeck Way

(4) Governor Winslow School Fields for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(5) Daniel Webster School Fields for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(6) South River School Fields for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(7) Eames Way School Fields for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(8) Martinson School & Community Turf and Track for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(9) Marshfield High School Natural Grass Fields & Fields off Forest Street for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(10) Marshfield High School Tennis Courts for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(11) Recreation Department Fields and Non-Contact Athletic Courts at Coast Guard Hill for non-contact sports and no pick-up games, organized games, or tournaments.  

(12) All Town owned Nature Trails, Conservation Land and Bridle Path and Couch Conservation Land. 

It is my opinion that the children’s playgrounds, including the one opposite the Town Library and at Rexhame Beach, and all basketball courts at all of the aforementioned facilities cannot open under this phase of the re-opening.    The roller rink and skate park must also remain closed in this phase of the re-opening.     I am advised that the reasons that these areas must remain closed because they either involve contact sports and cannot be safely sanitized or be open consistent with the outdoor recreation guidelines at this stage. 

As always, there should be no gatherings of more than 10 persons, appropriate social distancing must be maintained and adhered to, and/or face coverings must be used. 

I am amenable to a future plan to reopen basketball courts but there must be a limit of one or two players and no games at this time.      

Robert W. Galvin, Town Counsel