What to know about Memorial Day ceremonies, closures in Columbus area
Some Columbus-area museums and outdoor facilities will be open to the public during Memorial Day weekend, and residents are encouraged to keep practicing social distancing guidelines as they mark the holiday.
Before heading out this holiday weekend, make sure to read up on the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for social distancing and other preventative measures.
Here’s a list of what’s open and closed in the area for the upcoming holiday.
Parks and lakes
Columbus parks will continue to be open for the holiday weekend. Social distancing and masks are encouraged.
Jonathan Hatcher Skateboard Park is the only outdoor park that will remain closed. The Bull Creek Golf Course, disc golf, park restrooms and trails are also open.
Amenities still closed off to the public include:
Playgrounds, pavilions and exercise equipment.
Athletic fields for all sports including softball, baseball, basketball and soccer.
Outdoor pools.
Woodruff Farms Soccer Complex.
The Columbus Aquatic Center will remain closed until at least June 12, according to a Facebook post from the facility.
Places near the water that will be open include Lake Oliver Marina, 5501 River Road, and Robin Lake Beach inside of Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain.
Memorial Day events
Due to COVID-19, many of the usual Memorial Day parades and ceremonies aren’t being held or are moving online.
The National Infantry Museum is still closed due to the coronavirus, but museum staff and veterans will take part in a virtual ceremony to be live-streamed on Facebook at 10 a.m. Monday. According to a press release, about 100 new commemorative pavers will be dedicated during the ceremony.
Though the museum itself is closed, the grounds are not and various memorials are open for viewing and reflection.
Fort Mitchell is not holding its typical Memorial Day service either. A brief wreath laying ceremony, followed by a moment of silence and the playing of Taps will occur, but this ceremony won’t be open to the public, Todd Newkirk, assistant director of Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, said in a press release.
Group placement of flags at gravesites will also not occur, but the cemetery will be open from dusk to dawn this weekend for public visitation. Newkirk urges visitors to adhere to social distancing and other health and safety guidelines and suggests that people visit Friday, Saturday or Sunday to avoid Memorial Day crowds.
Families are allowed to place flowers and small American flags at their Veteran’s gravesite, according to Newkirk.
City closures
According to the Columbus Consolidated Government’s Facebook page, the following buildings and services will be impacted:
- Trash and recycling normally picked up on Mondays will be picked up Wednesday, May 27.
- The 311 Citizens Service Center, Granite Bluff/Pine Grove landfill, Civic Center and Animal Control will be closed.
- METRA Bus Service will not run and will return to its normal schedule on May 26.
- Recorder’s Court will only hold 9 a.m. bond hearings.