Litchfield Park Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf signed a proclamation Tuesday night, March 17 declaring a state of local emergency in the city due to rising concerns over the spread of COVID-19 and ordering the closure of a wide range of businesses where people gather effective Thursday, March 19 until further notice.

All city facilities will be closed to the public until further notice, and all City Council, committee and board meetings have been cancelled until the emergency proclamation is lifted. Services such as fire, police, refuse and recycling will remain in effect, City Manager Bill Stephens said in a press release distributed late Wednesday.

LOCATION: Litchfield Park is not all of 85340 ZIP code

Under the declaration, all restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, retail food facilities and other similar businesses and establishments are prohibited from serving food and beverages for consumption on premises, and the public cannot remain onsite to eat or drink.

Those establishments can continue to prepare food and beverages for patrons using delivery service, window service, drive-through or drive-up service, the release stated.

The declaration ordered closure of bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, tasting rooms, special licensees, and other similar businesses and establishments offering alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption, as well as indoor and outdoor performance venues, libraries and museums, gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, yoga and barre studios, martial art studios and other similar facilities.

Country clubs and other civic and social organizations are not permitted to have gatherings of more than 10 people. Golfers and tennis players are encouraged to maintain reasonable distances from each other to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19. Social distancing is required and pre or post social gatherings, tournaments, or group lessons of more than 10 people are prohibited. Normal golf operations are permissible so long as there are no more than (1) one person per golf cart. Normal tennis matches are permissible so long as there are no more than four players per court.

Groups of more than 10 ten people are prohibited in public parks and the city will not accept park reservations for social events until further notice, the release stated. Park restrooms and facilities will remain closed until the declaration is lifted.

Businesses exempt from the emergency closure are grocery stores, convenience stores, and other similar businesses that offer food and beverage for offsite consumption; pharmacies and drug stores; food banks and food pantries; cafeterias, commissaries and restaurants located within health care facilities, nursing homes, shelters, group homes, places of worship or similar facilities.

Last week, the city canceled special events through mid-April, and suspended youth and adult recreation activities. Litchfield Park Preschool operations also were suspended until Litchfield Elementary School District reopens To request league sports or preschool payment refunds, email Pat McCoy at pmccoy@litchfield-park.org.

For a copy of the proclamation and additional updates, visit litchfield-park.org. Residents can follow the city’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CityofLitchfieldPark for the latest updates.