No Camp, Pool In Cortlandt This Summer

CORTLANDT, NY — Cortlandt town officials have decided to cancel summer camp programs. The town pool also will remain closed. It was a difficult decision, particularly in light of "the ever-changing CDC, New York State, and Westchester County restrictions, guidelines and recommendations," Supervisor Linda Puglisi said in a notice to residents.

"Although it is hard to imagine a summer without camps, nothing is more important to us than the health, safety, and welfare of our children, our residents, staff and the partners with whom we work," she said. "Current and reasonably anticipated social distancing requirements for the summer would be impossible to enforce in the camp setting and would also prevent almost every traditional camp activity.

"We understand that, for some families, summer camp also serves an important role of childcare. The decision is made now in the hope that parents will have time to try to secure other arrangements for summer childcare, and camp workers will have more time to obtain alternate employment."

The decision affects both 2020 Town of Cortlandt Travel (5th/6th Grade Camp and 7th/8th Grade Camp) and Day Camp programs.

This does not rule out specialty camps, which may be offered later in the summer. Keep an eye on the Town of Cortlandt Recreation & Conservation Department homepage.

As for the town pool, the construction of the new bathhouse was stopped when the state shut down in March due to the outbreak.

"It is not clear at this time when construction will resume," Puglisi said. "In addition to the ongoing construction we are also faced with the restrictions of limiting social gatherings and enforcing the 6 foot social distancing requirements mandated by Governor Cuomo."

The town's playgrounds and basketball courts will remain closed until further notice.

Parks and trails are open and residents are required to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Also, the Muriel H. Morabito Community Center will be closed for the entire summer to ensure compliance with the guidelines set by the state, the CDC and the Westchester County Health Department.