Phoenix City Council Plans To Reopen Youth Sports Fields | Coronavirus in Arizona

PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – Organized youth sports are still going strong in the valley towns, but not in Phoenix, and parents like Ryan McKay can’t understand why.

McKay’s son Willie plays club baseball, but he can’t train or play games on the Phoenix fields at this time.

“You are wearing a mask, and as long as everyone is doing safe and proper things, I see no reason to keep the Phoenix Fields closed any longer.”

In November, the Phoenix city council closed youth sports due to the surge in the number of COVID-19.

COVID cases are now on the decline, prompting a new surge on social media to convince city leaders to let children return to the field.

Rick Kelsey heads the Arizona Football Association.

“Phoenix is ​​the only city in Maricopa County, every other city is still playing,” Kelsey said. “There are fields available, and each has different guidelines, different rules that we are all able to adhere to.”

Kelsey is convinced that precautions such as wearing masks, social distancing and limiting the number of fans in the stands can be just as effective in Phoenix as they have been in other communities.

One of the challenges facing parents in Phoenix right now is having to drive their kids through town to another park, where they’re allowed to play.

City leaders agreed to discuss the return of youth sports and possibly the reopening of athletic fields at the Phoenix city council meeting on March 16.

“If the city of Phoenix can open up for the Phoenix Suns, it can open up for kids,” Phoenix City Councilor Sal Diciccio said. “It’s just not true what’s happening to these kids right now. So hopefully it opens and opens quickly, and puts the kids back on the ground.”

Jason Barry is best known for his Dirty Dining Report which airs Fridays at 6:30 p.m. on CBS 5. He is also the storyteller behind CBS 5’s Pay It Forward which airs every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.