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In Pasco, more parks open for passive recreation, dining expands, library services are coming

Pasco continues to follow phased reopening of various county facilities and services
 
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD   |   Times
Visitors enjoy the trails at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, one of the passive recreation areas in Pasco County that reopened recently.
DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times Visitors enjoy the trails at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, one of the passive recreation areas in Pasco County that reopened recently. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Published May 6, 2020|Updated May 6, 2020

NEW PORT RICHEY — Pasco County reopened more parks for passive use Wednesday and will reopen some library services Thursday as officials continue to follow the phased recovery process outlined last week by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The county will also allow restaurants to use parking lots and other property for expanded dining.

People who use county facilities and services still must follow state and federal social distancing rules, including not gathering in groups of more than 10 and maintaining a distance of six feet apart to prevent to spread of COVID-19.

The additional limited-access park openings include walking and fitness trails, open space areas and outdoor tennis and basketball courts at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, San Antonio Athletic Complex, Veteran’s Memorial Park in Hudson and Wesley Chapel District Park.

All athletic fields, playgrounds, shelters and pavilions remain closed until further notice.

Restaurants will not need a permit to expand temporary outdoor seating into parking spaces and other areas allowed under county rules. Those extended areas can be used during normal business hours. and the permission will expire when indoor dining returns to full capacity.

Social distancing rules will still apply.

Thursday, county libraries will open their outside book drops and start accepting appointments for computer access.

County Administrator Dan Biles told county commissioners Tuesday that many county employees continue to work from home, and there are no plans in place to reopen customer service counters in county facilities.

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