Miami-Dade reopens parks, but not all its cities will

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County gave the green light for parks, marinas and golf courses to open at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Municipalities can decide whether they want to follow along in opening, however.

In Miami Beach, some parks plan to join the county and open.

But the two cities with the most resident COVID-19 cases in Florida — Miami and Hialeah — won’t be opening public spaces Wednesday, with their mayors saying it’s “too soon.”

“We are going to do things based on the data — based on the experts at the time frame that we feel comfortable,” City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said.

“We don’t think the time is yet right for the city of Hialeah to open our parks,” said Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernández.

County Mayor Carlos Giménez said the cities have the right to make those decisions, but that the county’s parks will be opening.

Miami-Dade coordinated its reopening with Broward and Palm Beach counties, which will also open parks, marinas and golf Wednesday. Beaches and non-essential businesses remain closed in this Phase 1 of reopening.

And the new normal comes with several new rules.

For golfers: One person per cart.

For boaters: No rafting or anchoring at sandbars like Haulover.

And at parks: Singles play for tennis, no pick-up basketball, and playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment will remain off-limits.

Facial coverings must still be worn, and social distancing must be practiced in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday in a White House meeting with President Donald Trump that he plans to announce the state’s reopening plan Wednesday.

See below for the full rules spelled out in Miami-Dade County’s emergency order:

For more information on Miami Beach’s reopening plans, click here.