Playgrounds and the splash pad in Picayune parks will reopen Monday with newly installed hand sanitizer stations.

Governor Tate Reeves’ Executive Order 1487, issued on Friday May 22, allowed playgrounds to reopen, although the order requires parks to provide hand sanitizer and to sanitize playground equipment every two hours.

The city of Picayune is waiting until Monday to reopen playgrounds and the splash pad so Parks and Recreations Department staff have time to install hand sanitizer stations at all of the city’s parks, said Director of Parks and Recreation Trevor Adam.

The one request the department staff have is that people stay at home if they feel sick, said Adam.

“People are ready to get back outside and enjoy what nature has to offer,” said Adam. “We want people to come. We just are asking them to use caution.”

All of the playground equipment will be sanitized before Monday and will continue to be sanitized as directed by the governor’s order.

“It gets a little tough for us. We are a very small department compared to a lot of other municipalities, but we’re going to do our best and try to keep up with it and move forward and get through this pandemic as best as we can,” said Adam.

Sometimes splash pads use water systems use the same water over and over, but the city’s splash pad uses free flowing water, so water comes directly from the water systems, said Adam. The Parks and Recreations Department will still have to stay on top of sanitizing the splash pad, he said.

Athletes have begun using the practice fields again, and morning walkers have been returning to the parks, said Adam.

“It’s a real joy. I guess sometimes we take all that for granted, and being able to see familiar faces—it’s just a great thing for us,” he said.

Spending time outdoors can support both mental and physical health, said Adam.