Palm Springs to allow re-opening of golf, tennis, pickleball facilities
After a lengthy city council meeting, Palm Springs councilmembers and staff are working to roll out a plan to reopen golf courses, and tennis and pickleball courts.
The council decided to allow golf courses to reopen, if city staff has received plans that ensure the safety of staff, customers and neighbors. The plans must be approved by city staff before reopening.
City Manager David Ready said after the meeting that city golf courses likely would open Saturday within city limits, to allow time for plans to be approved.
Private tennis courts can open Friday, but public tennis and pickleball courts will not be open likely until Monday, according to city staff.
At least initially, the council discussed allowing only Palm Springs residents to use pickleball courts.
On the city's public golf courses, council discussed allowing anyone from any city to play.
For private golf courses, tennis courts, or facilities within HOA's, the council left it up to individual organizations to set their own rules.
A major question through the council's discussion was enforcement – and how to protect city staff from potentially sick players, as well as the summer heat.
All this comes as Governor Newsom is allowing curbside pickup for retailers starting Friday.
"It seemed really unfair that big box national brands were allowed to sell items and our small businesses, which are what make Palm Springs and the valley so special, couldn't even deliver things to someone without any contact," said Mayor Geoff Kors.
Looking ahead to the eventual reopen of dine-in restaurants, Kors said the council is considering open-air seating plans – potentially right in the middle of Palm Canyon Drive.
"What we'd like to see is permission to allow restaurants to use more outdoor space, especially closing Palm Canyon or other roads and giving restaurants space in front of their current restaurant so they have more outdoor space, as we anticipate capacity will be limited," Kors said.
