Pools Will Remain Closed, No July 4th Fireworks Display This Summer
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announced today during a virtual news conference that the city’s six pools and the splash pad at Savage Park will not open this summer and the planned Independence Day fireworks display is cancelled.
The mayor also announced today that the city would hire 25 new police officers in October. He thanked Toledo City Council, especially council members Katie Moline and Chris Delaney, for the collaboration to secure funding for the 25 police recruits.
“Traditionally, the city of Toledo provides lunches for children every day from late May to early August at our public pools,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “Even though pools will be closed, we will continue to provide this service. We are looking for different locations in our city parks where lunches can be distributed, and where we can also provide some appropriate socially distanced actives.”
The cost to operate pools this year would have been about $290,000. Due to the COVID-19 impacts on the economy, revenue is projected to fall well short of the budget. The city’s general fund is projected to fall short of the budget and projections by $25 million to $50 million by the end of 2021.
“I know the annual fireworks display over the Maumee River, which draws tens of thousands of people to downtown and East Toledo, is probably the favorite summer activity for our city. This was not a decision we made lightly. Other cities, including Akron, have already canceled Independence Day fireworks displays because of the COVID-19 threat that will still be present in July.”
The mayor also reviewed the next phase of the state’s “Responsible Restart Ohio” plan. Consumer, retail, and services sector openings will occur on Tuesday, May 12. Until then, businesses can provide by-appointment or curbside services, if applicable.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz reminded the public that COVID-19 testing sites are open and accepting appointments in Lucas County.
“You must have an appointment at all of the locations. Go to LucasCountyHealth.com/CoronavirusUpdates and search under ‘community testing’ for more information,” he said.
The mayor added: “This week is Public Service Recognition Week and National Drinking Water Week, both of which we have acknowledged on our social media pages. But, perhaps more importantly this year, it is also Nurses Week, and I want to highlight the incredible work nurses in our community have done on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.”
The news conference was streamed live on the city’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/cityoftoledo/. A recording can be downloaded until May 14, 2020 at this link:
The city of Toledo has compiled a list of services affected by the pandemic, and available resources, which can be found at this link: https://toledo.oh.gov/news/update-from-the-city-of-toledo-mayor/.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit www.LucasCountyHealth.com. The Lucas County Community COVID-19 call linenumbers are 419-251-4000 (English only) and 419-291-5355 (multilingual). The public is asked to refrain from calling 911 unless it is a true emergency. Call 419-213-4161, press 4, and leave a message to report COVID-19 related matters. The Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 website is www.Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov and the Ohio Department of Health hotline is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).