Are the park restrooms and playgrounds open yet?
All City-owned parks facilities were reopened last week after being closed in March in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the exception of one at Jo Allyn Lowe Park due to a plumbing issue, park restrooms are open and are disinfected every day. Playgrounds are open as well but will not be disinfected as there is simply not enough available manpower to accomplish this. Signage will be installed to inform parents/care givers and park patrons of this.
Jury still out on Sooner
Is the City going to open Sooner Pool this summer?
The decision on whether to open Sooner Pool for the summer season will be made by the end of this week. City Parks Department and Richard Kane YMCA staff are working to determine whether opening Sooner pool is warranted based on demand at Frontier. The YMCA, which manages operations at the City-owned Sooner and Frontier swimming pools, is monitoring attendance at Frontier Pool and requests. Note the splash pad at Sooner Park, located near Sooner Park Swimming Pool, is open now.
Covid-19 testing: Available or not?
Can I get tested for Covid-19 even if I don’t have symptoms? Where can I get tested in Bartlesville?
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, testing for Covid-19 is now available for anyone in Oklahoma, symptomatic or not. For Bartlesville residents, testing is available at the Washington County Health Department, located at 5121 S.E. Jacquelyn Lane, as well as some local medical facilities and providers.
Test results are typically available in three to five days, depending on the number of tests under processing at the time by the Oklahoma State University lab.
Note the Health Department does not test for employment verification of a negative test for people who previously tested positive or for elective surgery.
For more information, contact your medical provider or Washington County Health Department at 918.335.3005.
Current restrictions
What measures are currently in place relating to Covid-19?
The City Council implemented measures in March aimed at reducing spread of Covid-19. Several modifications were made to those measures in the weeks following and were all but dropped by the end of May. The only City restrictions still in place relate primarily to the operation of City facilities, meetings and services and the Bartlesville Development Authority’s Econcomic Recovery Task Force.
However, all Oklahomans, including Bartlesville residents, of course, are required to act in accordance with Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s Open Up and Recover Safely plan. The plan includes minimizing time in crowds, staying home if you are over 65 or part of a vulnerable population, following guidelines set forth by the Centers of Disease Control and other guidelines for businesses.
For more specific information, see the OURS plan at https://www.okcommerce.gov/covid19/ and/or the governor’s most recent order, Executive Order No. 2020-20 .
Hands & face
Do we still need to wash our hands? Are we required to wear masks?
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone wash their hands frequently and wear a mask or face covering when around other people. Some people infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms and can expose others to the virus unknowingly. This is particularly dangerous for those over 65, people with underlying health conditions or those who have compromised immune systems. While Covid-19 can be life threatening for anyone, these vulnerable populations are most at risk of dying and/or becoming seriously ill from the virus. Other recommendations include avoiding close contact with people, avoiding large groups and people who are sick, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and monitoring your health to check for symptoms.
Special thanks to City Director of Engineering Micah Siemers for the following information.
New bike lane markings explained
Are there clear instructions to citizens about what the new bike lane markings mean to cyclists and vehicles drivers?
Throughout the country bicyclists are permitted to use roadways so long as they follow the same laws as other drivers. Under Oklahoma State Law, a bicyclist has a basic right to the road. Bicycles are considered a mode of transportation just like a motor vehicle and, as such, they are required to follow all traffic rules if they are utilized on streets.
The recently added shared lane markings, or “sharrows,” along Frank Phillips, and soon to be on some streets in the downtown area are being added to help identify designated bike routes connecting downtown to Johnstone Park and Pathfinder to West Bartlesville.