City events forced to shut down

On Thursday, August 6, the City of Malta's Parks and Recreation department chose to pull the plug on current activities and it's building fitness rooms, due to a recent outbreak in COVID-19 cases.

The City alerted the community of its closures via their social media page and website on Friday, August 7. The closures include tumbling classes, the Municipal Pool, the youth soccer season, weight room, and indoor gym.

"We will be closed for the safety of our community, our children, our youth, and their families," Parks and Recreation Director Sally Wright said. "It was the best thing to do for the community and the City."

Prior to the closures, everything had been running well. Soccer practices had over 60 children present, the pool was hosting over 100 swimmers a day, and tumbling classes had 30 children.

The Youth Soccer was broken up into three different age groups and games were scheduled to begin this week.

"We had smaller numbers because of everything that is going on, but we were willing to go out there and play to give the kids something to do," Wright said.

Wright, her son Kendrik Wright, Caitlin Anderson, Bri Shores, and Assistant Director Jessica Zeiger all helped run soccer practices prior to the closures.

"We only had two practices," Wright said.

Tia Siewing, instructor for the City's Tumbling Classes, shared her statement on her social media page.

"I apologize for my tumbling classes being canceled due to Covid-19," Siewing said. "I had so much fun with your kiddos for the short amount of time I had them."

Siewing also said that the classes haven't been rescheduled yet, but that she is hoping to continue the classes later in the year.

"The kids were having a blast with tumbling," Wright said.

Though there are events scheduled in the near future, Wright is hopeful that the outbreak can start to clear up in the future for upcoming events. She knows it will take some work.

"Hopefully people will be respectful, wear masks, and stay home if they are sick," Wright said. "Hopefully we can get through this so we can open up activities later this year."

Refunds have been offered on the Malta Parks and Recreation Facebook page for events that have been shut down due to COVID-19.