Framingham Reopening Beaches, Athletic Fields, City Offices

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The coronavirus pandemic is not over, but it has slowed down enough locally for Framingham officials to reopen previously closed facilities.

At the top of the list: city beaches will reopen the week of June 29 with lifeguards coming on duty by July 1. Residents can apply for free parking permits beginning Friday. Basketball courts will also reopen on Monday — the city had earlier in June opened facilities like tennis courts, playgrounds, and the skate park at Farm Pond.

Athletic fields will also reopen to groups of no more than 12, including coaches. The facilities still can't be used for games or scrimmages.

The city is also reopening the retirement office at the Memorial Building on Monday. Some City Hall services came online on June 1, like the City Clerk and the tax office.

Coronavirus cases are continuing to grow in Framingham, but at a much slower rate. The city has added 10 new cases since June 19, and two more people have died of the virus. At the peak in April and May, Framingham was adding dozens of cases each day.

Over the course of the pandemic, 1,719 city residents have been diagnosed with the virus, 110 have died, and 1,410 have recovered.