Wilson Park / File photo

Mayor Lioneld Jordan has closed all park amenities, and has prohibited any activity in city parks that’s not compliant with social distancing as part of ongoing efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus in Fayetteville.

The parks will remain open, but residents are temporarily banned from using basketball and other playing courts, playing fields, playgrounds, water fountains, restrooms, gazebos and any other amenity or location where social distancing is not being observed.

All city trails will remain open at this time, and the Walker Park restrooms will remain open, according to a news release.

Fayetteville police will increase their presence in city parks and on the trail system to encourage compliance with social distancing, the release stated. Residents who observe persons or establishments operating out of compliance with any of the mayor’s regulations are encouraged to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 479-587-3560.

City permit fees for fishing at Lake Fayetteville and Lake Sequoyah are waived for the same time period as state fishing license fees and requirements are waived by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (currently through March 29).

Jordan also issued two other measures on Tuesday:

• The ban on disposable, single-use polystyrene foam products scheduled to go into effect on May 1 has been delayed until July 1.
• Residential developers who choose to pay fee-in-lieu of required parkland dedication are not required to submit plats, plans or proposals to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board prior to submitting development plans to the Planning Commission until further notice.