Curfew, rioting stall beach reopenings in county and town

A county-wide curfew imposed after demonstrations turned violent in downtown Miami delayed the reopening of beaches, including those in Miami Lakes.
The curfew, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., ordered May 30 by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez “until further notice” will be enforced in Miami Lakes, Town Manager
Edward Pidermann said that weekend.
Gimenez said he supported peaceful demonstrators who protested the death of George Floyd, who died while he was in police custody in Minneapolis.
But after police cars in Miami were set on fire and rioters damaged stores at Bayside Marketplace, Gimenez imposed the nighttime restrictions.
Beaches will open when the curfew is lifted.
Plans to reopen 90 pocket parks closed in Miami Lakes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus was to happen as planned as of June 1.
Playgrounds at town parks and the dog park will remain off limits,
Pidermann said.
“Only the green space areas will reopen,” Pidermann said. “We know our pocket parks are so important to our town.”
Fitness centers could open as soon as mid-June, Pidermann said.
Hotels were also allowed to accept regular travelers as of June 1. Previously they only accommodated first responders, others involved with fighting the pandemic or business travelers.
Hotel pools as well as pools at private townhome, condominium and apartment complexes may open June 1, too.
For those that do reopen, a distance of six feet between people must be maintained, Pidermann said.
Guidelines by HOAs and management companies may be more strict than what the town requires, but they may not be more lenient, he said.
Lounge chairs must be removed from pool decks if social distancing cannot be followed, and hand sanitizing stations and disinfectant wipes must be available on the deck and in restrooms.
When the county and town reopen beaches, residents may bring chairs and umbrellas but cannot erect tents.
During a Facebook Live announcement on May 28, Pidermann discussed his order alongside Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid.
Pidermann said something that will bring joy to working parents who may be ordered back to their work sites while wondering about how to care for their kids.
Summer camps and youth activities may reopen as soon as June 8, Pidermann said.
He said a working group appointed by Gimenez is putting the finishing touches on the guidelines and restrictions for kids’ activities.
Cid said making sure summer plans were in place for children was necessary before parents return to work.
“How can you open up the economy without opening up summer camps?” he said. “It’s the same for schools. If we open up summer camps and schools don’t open in August, then what happens to our economy?”
Cid said the resumption of camps and youth activities will bring relief to children who have been quarantined for months.
“You can only imagine how stressful [this has been] for the kids who are [staying] at home,” Cid said.