Everyone,
As we all know these are very trying times for our country, state and the City of Alexandria. Our Miracle League season could very well be in jeopardy with the COVID-19 virus spreading and for us all to take more drastic steps than normal to stay healthy and safe.
As our season comes closer to beginning in April, we will continue to follow all Virginia state and City of Alexandria guidelines in determining if the youth and adult seasons will occur. Below is the latest update from today (3/23/2020) from Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam on the closing of all school systems in the state and a copy of a letter from the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Director about the City response to this crisis.
The MLA of Alexandria Board strongly encourages everyone to follow all the CDC precautions of being safe and healthy as we all go through this crisis together.
We will post any MLA programming updates when they become available. Please take care of yourself and your family and we hope to see you soon. If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]
Mac Slover
Chairman
Miracle League of Alexandria
Virginia Closes Schools for the Year Amid Coronavirus
March 23, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. EDT
Virginia closed its public schools for the rest of the academic year and Maryland ordered all non-essential businesses to shut their doors on Monday as the coronavirus continued to spread, with health care workers sounding the alarm about dwindling supplies of protective gear.
The total number of confirmed cases in the region had reached 628 as of Monday afternoon, with the District expected to report its new cases later in the day. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) said the state was “moving into a period of sacrifice” and canceled the remainder of the public school year — becoming the second state to do so, after Kansas.
Northam also ordered restaurants to stop serving sit-down diners.
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March 18, 2020
Dear RPCA Families and Friends,
The Alexandria Health Department recommends that all community members change their daily behavior to reduce risk from COVID-19 Coronavirus, particularly to protect our most vulnerable populations. The City of Alexandria has already taken proactive measures to further reduce risk and encourages all organizations and individuals to take necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In response to Governor Ralph Northam’s announcement to avoid non-essential gatherings of more than 10 people per federal guidelines, the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) is implementing the following service delivery adjustments to be effective beginning March 19:
- The following facilities are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through April 10:
- Lee Center is open for any essential City operations.
- Charles Houston and Patrick Henry Recreation Centers are open for individual use of public Wi-Fi, workspaces, and Safe Place services. All other facility amenities are closed and groups of 10 or more will be prohibited.
- All recreation programs, classes, activities, sports leagues, Out of School Time programs and Spring Break camps are suspended through April 10.
- All private facility and picnic rentals are suspended through April 10.
- All reservations and registrations are suspended until at least April 1.
- The following facilities are closed through April 10: Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center; Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility; Mount Vernon Recreation Center; Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center; William Ramsay Recreation Center; Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center; Oswald Durant Center; and Charles Barrett Recreation Center.
Based upon the guidance from the Alexandria Health Department and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to cancel or postpone in-person gatherings of 50 or more people for the next 8 weeks, RPCA is implementing the following adjustments to be effective March 19:
- All permitted and City-produced special events are suspended through May 17.
- Torpedo Factory Art Center is closed to the public through May 17.
All parks, trails, fields, and playgrounds remain open to the public. To protect themselves and others, patrons are requested to practice social distancing by maintaining six feet of personal space, wash their hands often or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Credits or refunds will be issued for all rentals and activities that are cancelled.
Visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation for RPCA registration, program, and facility operating status updates.
Visit alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus for the most up-to-date information from the Alexandria Health Department.
Sincerely,
James Spengler
Director