Simply...Garnett, Kansas
City of Garnett public park playgrounds will open on Monday, May 18, 2020. The Garnett Recreation Center will open Tuesday, May 19. Guidance, guidelines and recommendations will be posted throughout the recreation center and park kiosks to help keep all who visit city facilities as we continue to move through the reopening phases. See GUIDANCE
Ready, Set.... Let's Look Forward!
Resources and Guidelines
PLAYGROUNDS OPEN MAY 18, THE REC MAY 19
The Garnett Farmers' Market Season opened as a "drive thru" experience. As of May 21, vendors may open to walk-up traffic. Lines with social distancing will apply, and other safety measures will apply to ensure public safety. Learn more.
As We Enter 2.0, Here Are Some Things You Should Know...
summer baseball/softball
season cancelled
Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN, is the Southeast Kansas Mult-County Health Departments Administrator, as well as the Southeast Kansas Local Public Health Officer. Ms. Johnson has provided the resource link below, providing valuable information on:
- Guidelines to Protect Employees and Customers
- Guidelines for Retail and Jewlry Stores;
- Restaurants and Convenience Stores;
- Barber Shops, Hair Salons, Nail Salons and Tanning;
- Childcare Services;
- Medical and Health Services;
- Gaming, Exercise, Museums and Planetariums;
- Youth Athletic Activities;
- Pharmacies;
- Real Estate Agents;
- Industry and Manufacturing;
- Agriculture;
- Libraries
Please click the button, "Guidelines & FAQs".
5/19/2020: Safe Memorial Day Guidance and the Ad Astra Reopening Plan
Please Note: The Anderson County Courthouse and county facilities will open to the public on June 1, 2020. Website
As the United States and the State of Kansas look to loosen the restrictions once established when COVID-19 became apparent in our country, we are providing these tools to help guide you through the process to reopening Garnett and Anderson County again. This will be a "phase-in" process that will require patience and understanding. Our work; our goals, are to not only reopen, but be better than ever- together.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced her plan to reopen Kansas during her address to the people on Thursday, April 30, 2020. The "Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas" goes into effect Monday, May 1, 2020, and is available at the button, below.
The Governor has also announced a centralized resource website for Kansans seeking up-to-date information as the state moves into reopening and recovery. The website is covid.ks.gov.
MAY 8, 2020: The Anderson County COvid-19 Task Force recom-mends, until further notice, businesses discontinue operations of buffets and self-service beverage stations that require customers to use common utensils or dispensers. Customers of businesses who may offer self-service stations are strongly encouraged to avoid those areas as a precaution for their own safety. Please read full release: Recommendations
Governor Laura Kelly To Announce Reopening Plans
PLEASE NOTE: Garnett City Hall is open to the public, however, the Garnett Public Library, the Anderson County Courthouse and area schools remain closed at this time. The library is providing curbside services. beginning May 6.
As the State of Kansas enters into a "modified Phase 2" on Friday, May 22, here is a link to guidance measures for individuals, businesses and venues to use to protect the public health of your community.
Governor Adds Phase 1.5
April 29, 2020: Anderson County COVID Task Force Meeting
Anderson County COVID-19 Task Force Recommendations Announced
MAY 19, 2020: The Task Force recommends the buffet/self-service food station of a business remain closed to the public use if staff is unable to serve while wearing gloves and mask. See complete TASK FORCE RELEASE.
Garnett Farmers' Market Opens to Walk-Up Traffic beginning May 21
To slow the spread of Covid-19, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday, May 15th through Facebook that she has revised the Plan to Reopen Kansas by adding "Phase 1.5" that begins implementation on Monday, May 18th. This phase allows some additional person service businesses to open with restrictions; however, it restricts mass gatherings to no more than 10 individuals. Phase 2 would have allowed the mass gatherings no more than 30. To view the full, revised plan, please click on the link below.
Anderson County COVID-19 Task Force Recommendations Announced
Begin to Open
MAY 11, 2020: The City of Garnett announces that the Summer 2020 Baseball and Softball Programs have been cancelled. See SPORTS.
UPDATED 05-19-20
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the City of Garnett and the Parks and Recreation Department are still looking into the logistics of opening the Garnett Municipal Swimming Pool this summer. As it stands now, the pool will not open on its original scheduled date of May 23, 2020. At this time, no final determination to cancel the swimming pool season has been made.
The Plan to Reopen Kansas (Executive Order 20-29), CDC guidelines and guidance from the Kansas Department of Health on social distancing, PPE and other factors, make opening a public pool a difficult task. Certification of lifeguards is required in a pool setting. Pools across the state are dealing with the same dilemma. The timeline in which to get the local, public pool ready to open when adhering to these phase-in requirements, as well as training and certification of lifeguards will determine when the pool may open this summer.
The City of Garnett and the Parks and Recreation Department take the safety of pool staff and all that choose to visit the pool during the summer very seriously. The Parks and Recreation Department will continue looking at our options and keep you informed of any changes, or when a final decision has been made. Your patience and understanding are appreciated in these unprecedented times in the Parks and Recreation community.
During Phase 1.5, pool are not allowed per the State’s Plan to Reopen Kansas (May 14, 2020).
On Wednesday, April 29, representatives of local government entities including, school districts, public health officials and healthcare providers held a teleconference to discuss how Anderson County transitions into the recovery/restart phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indications are the state-wide stay at home order will be lifted on May 4, but restrictions are likely according to Governor Kelly’s staff. We do not know at this time what those restrictions will be.
Due to the fact there are no current positive cases in Anderson County the consensus of the task force was to avoid placing any local restrictions in place more strict than what Governor Kelly is slated to release in the coming days.
Local health care providers are continuing to perform COVID-19 tests. Options for additional testing is being explored.
Guidance for once the stay at home order is lifted provided by our public health officer is available to view at the link below. Please keep in mind this guidance may change as the situation dictates.
We encourage you to continue to wash hands, stay home if sick, avoid large crowds, and don a facemask when out in public. We are by no means in the clear with this COVID-19 situation, stay vigilant and healthy.
The task force is planning to meet regularly as this situation is ever evolving.
Garnett, Kansas is a rare place. Especially on Memorial Day. This small, rural community shows its patriotism through the over 300 flags that fly over the Garnett Municipal Cemetery. While the annual Memorial Day ceremony had to be called off due to COVID-19, the cemetery should be on your bucket list to see with each flag representing someone who served our country.
The Garnett Remembers - Patriotic Pole Banner Project is on exhibit, now through the end of July. It honors 263 veterans on 255 banners. You will find them throughout Garnett's business districts and into some residential areas. A special tribute motorcycle ride will take place on Saturday, May 23, at 1 p.m. by the American Legion Riders of Paola.
With over 1,000 acres of parks with premier water with 3 lake facilities and campsites that provide lake view pleasure, we encourage everyone to enjoy the great outdoors, but please keep the safety of your family, friends, neighbors, and most importantly yourself in mind. Thank you.