More openings scheduled in Iowa

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ coronavirus briefing Tuesday brings local towns the chance to open up more non-essential businesses as the state of Iowa eases restrictions.

Starting June 1, Reynolds announced the following would be able to open following specific guidelines: Speedways and racetracks, Outdoor performance venues such as amphitheaters and grandstands, casinos, amusement parks, bowling alleys, pool halls, arcades, skating rinks and skate parks and outdoor playgrounds

On top of the openings, Reynolds also announced bars, wineries and other social locations can open up today (May 28) so long as locations are following public health measures and social distancing protocol.

Locations that are opening up today and on June 1 are to exceed no more than 50% capacity while following the 6-foot rule for social distancing.

Locally, at Adams County Speedway, the process of keeping attendance at 50% will not be an issue. It’s the matter of how they’ll keep fans apart, while also battling with the challenging aspect of families attending in groups.

“We’re not close to 50% on our capacity on a regular basis anymore. We hold roughly 5,000 (people), ... on average (in attendance) we’re at about 1,200 people in the facility. Who knows what it’ll be like. We’ll have people that’ll want to come and people that still won’t go. ... We’re going to try and do what we can. ... It’s a very difficult thing to figure out,” said public relations director Cliff Baldwin.

Adams County Speedway opened last Saturday to no spectators, similar to now NASCAR’s racing levels have been operating for two weeks. Huff said a game plan hasn’t been formulated for ACS just yet, but meetings will be taking place before June 6 (the next scheduled races where fans can attend) to come up with a clean and safe environment.

As of now, drivers and teams are complying with guidelines on their own, signing in on arrival and staying with their hauler for their time at the track.

“Each person, from my understanding, is that they had to sign in with what car they’re with and stay with that trailer or hauler,” said Baldwin. “Other guidelines, I’m not sure what they did in their own groups.”

Outdoor playgrounds and skate parks in town will also now be open to the public, with those who wish to use both places expected to follow protocol.

Mark Huff, Creston’s Parks and Recreation director, said it’s hard to enforce the rules set out by Reynolds.

With locals still making the trip to playgrounds and skate parks despite both being closed anyway, Huff thinks the first days after an “official” opening will not be as big of a draw as some expect.

“We’re just going to have to see how it goes,” said Huff. “I don’t know. ... I don’t know, really, what to expect. I expect the skate park to be busy from time to time, but I don’t know if we’ll have a problem down there with the social distancing. We’ll just have to wait and see, because I don’t know.”

Huff said the department doesn’t have the manpower to enforce guidelines and regulations at the skate park, citing other park duties needing to be tended to over “patrolling.” Sanitation will also be done as often as possible.

Further down the road, Osceola’s Lakeside Hotel and Casino will now have a chance to open up to prospective bettors. It’s set to open June 3, with adjusted hours of 10 a.m. to midnight. Guests who are 50 years or older will be allowed inside one hour before opening to the public.

The hotel will start taking reservations June 1 for June 7 and later.

Lakeside’s Vice President and General Manager David Monroe was unable to return a request for comment. Pine Valley, which will be able to open its bowling alley, also did not return a request for comment.