Log in

Goodyear receives HealthyVerify certification for summer recreation program

Posted 6/2/20

With the official start of summer on the way, the city of Goodyear has been working to get its summer recreation program ready for families. This year, it’s even more imperative that there are …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Goodyear receives HealthyVerify certification for summer recreation program

Posted

With the official start of summer on the way, the city of Goodyear has been working to get its summer recreation program ready for families. This year, it’s even more imperative that there are checks in place to ensure the highest level of health and safety for kids.

Goodyear is the only public entity in Arizona to receive HealthyVerify certification for the program, according to a city release. This certification is essentially a playbook of protocols meant to reduce the likelihood of spreading COVID-19 between participants. The program is designed to strictly follow Centers for Disease Control and Preventiona and White House reopening guidelines. For more information on HealthyVerify, visit healthyverify.com/the-healthy-verify-certification.

“Each summer, Goodyear families eagerly await the start of our dynamic summer recreation programs,” Mayor Georgia Lord stated. “This certification should provide some reassurance for parents in knowing that the city is following the highest level of standards to keep kids safe.”

The city has worked with medical experts in infectious disease, as well as researchers, to create and implement standards in the areas of cleaning, safe distancing, equipment, protective gear, hygiene and overall program coordination. The highest level of training for recreation staff is an important element of this certification to ensure best practices are followed, the release stated.

For example, lunch times and room setup will be designed to create a safe distance between kids. High-touch games, like dodgeball, will require kids to wear face coverings and wash their hands before and after the game. In addition, an assigned health safety manager will be on hand to quickly identify symptoms of illness among kids and staff, and to make sure safety measures are being followed, the release stated. Additional organizations involved in the planning and review process include Rose Law Group and the infectious disease control director at the Barrow Neurological Institute.

As COVID-19 recommendations change on local and national levels, program procedures may tighten or relax.

Summer recreation is a supervised, drop-in program designed for youth who will be enrolling in first through eighth grade for the upcoming 2020-21 school year. To participate, children must have completed a full year of kindergarten.

Programs include indoor and outdoor activities, games, arts and crafts, movie days and more. Each week will have a specific theme to coordinate with the games and activities provided, the release stated.

Activities will begin Monday, June 15 and run through Friday, July 17 at four locations:

  • Copper Trails Elementary, 16875 W. Canyon Trails Blvd.
  • Desert Thunder Elementary, 16750 W. Garfield St.
  • Desert Star Elementary, 2131 S. 157th Ave.
  • Wildflower Elementary, 325 S. Wildflower Drive.

Residents may register beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 8 at Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S Ballpark Way, Goodyear or at goodyearaz.gov/summerrec. If openings are available, non-residents may register beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 11.

Cost is $190 per child for residents and $220 per child for non-residents. Goodyear families can receive multi-child discounts of $145 per second child and $95 for the third and subsequent children registered. Discounts do not apply to non-residents.