Kewaunee County opens parks after COVID-19 closures, but playgrounds still closed

KEWAUNEE - The Kewaunee County Promotions & Recreation Department announced Wednesday it has begun reopening its parks for visitors, although playground equipment remains off-limits and most restrooms in the parks are still closed.

The department had temporarily closed portions of some county parks because of the COVID-19 pandemic that struck in March and delayed the opening of other seasonal properties.

Now open are Riverview ATV Park and the lower portion of Bruemmer Park Zoo, and The 'Burg Speedway at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds is scheduled to hold its first racing program of the season June 14. Other county parks are open.

Riverview ATV Park delayed its opening not just because of COVID-19 concerns but also wet trails. The seasonal park, which hosts off-road recreational vehicles like ATVs, UTVs and dirt bikes, will remain open until mid-November.

New this season at Riverview, visitors will be required to purchase a trail pass for each recreational vehicle being used at the park. Passes are $5 daily or $30 for the season and will need to be made visible in their parked vehicle's windshield.

Bruemmer Park Zoo, which was closed in March, offers several new features as it reopens its lower portion.

The old goat and sheep shelter has been removed as these animals now share a space with the deer in the upper portion of the zoo. And, an outdoor soda machine has been installed.

Ryan Park, fast becoming a popular destination for its fat bike trails and the county’s largest soccer park, also soon will have a new outdoor soda machine on site.

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After planning with county officials, the Kewaunee County Racing Association, the new promoters of The ‘Burg Speedway will have guidelines in place to help keep racers and fans safe from the spread of COVID-19 as it starts its season, including social distancing and encouraging the use of masks. The season was originally scheduled to start in May but had been delayed because of the pandemic.

Playground equipment remains closed at all county parks until further notice, and public restrooms will reopen as staff time allows for proper cleaning multiple times daily. As of Wednesday, the restrooms at the zoo, Riverview ATV Park and the speedway are the only open ones.

Park visitors are asked by the Promotions & Recreations Department to continue social distancing in the parks and make sure they are frequently handwashing or hand-sanitizing and consider wearing masks when in public, which follows guidelines set by the Public Health Department two weeks ago. The guidelines can be found under the "Kewuanee County Reopening Guidelines" tab at kewauneeco.org.

Kewaunee County park hours are from dawn until dusk; all are under 24/7 surveillance and patrolled by law enforcement. For more information, visit visitkewauneecounty.com or call 920-388-0444.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Kewaunee County opens parks after COVID-19 closures, but playgrounds still closed