COVID-19 UPDATE: Message from the Recreation Dept.:

During the City Commission meeting on May 18, 2020, after a careful review of our recent recreation programs and the ways we can safely offer those programs to our residents, the recreation department recommended a tiered system of programming that will hopefully allow the city’s recreation programs to resume in full after Labor Day. 

The first tier cancels all summer programming, classes, and walk-in activities through Labor Day. This would include the following facilities: Jack and Patti Salter Community Center, the Leo Mahany / Harold Meininger Senior Community Center, and the John Lindell Ice Arena. 

When EO 2020-77 is no longer in effect, the recreation department expects there will still be safeguards in place to protect the public that will make it impossible to offer the type of programming our residents have come to expect in a manner that will be safe for everyone involved. 

Second, later this month when EO 2020-77 is no longer in effect and both the Governor’s office and the Oakland County Health Division have provided further direction on the restrictions that are necessary to protect the public, the city can consider whether or not playground equipment, pavilions, facility rentals, sport courts can be re-opened and league play can begin. If not, those activities and the use of those facilities would continue to be prohibited through Labor Day. 

We will continue to work with our state and county officials on developing appropriate guidelines to gradually re-open and provide services to our residents, with hopes of being able to start all of our fall recreation programs after Labor Day.

 The decision to cancel all our summer programming, classes and walk-in activities was not easy. The health and wellness of the public, our residents and our staff has been and will continue to be our #1 priority. The City of Royal Oak’s Recreation Department apologizes for any inconvenience this may have. We encourage everyone to practice safe and healthy measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Oakland County Health Division. 

Updated: May 25, 2020