City of Rockville facilities will remain closed to the public through Friday, May 15, in response to Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive orders related to COVID-19 in Maryland.
City events, in-person classes, programs, rentals and activities are also canceled through May 15.
The announcement follows last week’s announcement that schools across the state will be closed through May 15.
Rockville employees are conducting as much of the city’s operations as possible while maintaining recommended social distancing guidelines to ensure the health and safety of city staff and the community. Employees who are able are continuing to telework.
Essential city services will continue, including regular trash and recycling collection, water treatment, street repair, water and sewer system repair, building code and fire inspections, utility- and public works-related permits and inspections, animal control, traffic signal repair, and police patrols and emergency response.
Following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, city employees who provide critical services — such as trash removal, water treatment and law enforcement — are required to cover their faces to protect the health of the community members they serve, as well as their health, and the health of their coworkers.
The Mayor and Council continue to conduct meetings by teleconference. Meetings include a presentation about Rockville’s response to the COVID-19 emergency by the city’s emergency manager. They are broadcast live on Rockville 11 and via livestreaming at www.rockvillemd.gov/rockville11, and are available on demand at www.rockvillemd.gov/videoondemand a day after each meeting.
Comments for community forum will be accepted in writing. Email [email protected] by 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting to submit comments.
Find the Mayor and Council agenda at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter.
While City of Rockville parks and trails remain open, amenities in the parks are closed, including playgrounds; bathrooms; fitness stations; tennis, pickleball, basketball, Bankshot and volleyball courts; the skate park at the Rockville Swim and Fitness Center; and athletic fields for group play. The Rockville Dog Park at King Farm is also closed.
The Department of Recreation and Parks has extended its cancellation of in-person programming, including classes, programs and activities, through spring, in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Customers will receive a full refund of any program fees they have paid. (Please allow two weeks for processing.) For questions, contact the Recreation and Parks Department at [email protected] or 240-314-8620, Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
To keep community members well and active, Rockville is offering select virtual programs that can be done in the safety of home. Find them at bit.ly/VirtualRecClasses.
Event cancellations include the annual Department of Public Works Equipment Show and the Hometown Holidays Music Fest and Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade. The city is exploring other options for safely carrying on the city’s Memorial Day weekend tradition.
An executive order issued by Gov. Hogan prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people, reducing public contact in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The order applies to social, cultural and community gatherings.
The City of Rockville, in partnership with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the state of Maryland, continues to actively and diligently monitor the public health threat and assess next steps.
For the latest city-related information, follow the City of Rockville on social media (Nextdoor, Facebook and Twitter), visit the website at www.rockvillemd.gov, or sign up for Alert Rockville at www.rockvillemd.gov/alerts.
The city has created an email newsletter to keep community members up-to-date on COVID-19 news, including city, state and county news; Rockville closures and cancellations; resources on how to help in the community; and safe and fun activity ideas for families to do at home. Visit https://mailchi.mp/rockvillemd/covid19updates to sign up and receive the newsletter daily in your inbox.
For general inquiries about city operations, call 240-314-8106.