This is the day we've been waiting for!

If you've been itching to go to the gym or participate in other recreational activities, we've got some good news for you! The state of Colorado has released the final set of guidelines for gyms, pools, playgrounds, and more to open up safely to the public under the safer-at-home order.

Many gyms, pools, and playgrounds have been closed since March in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

These new guidelines set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment include (taken directly from the website):

Indoor gyms, indoor fitness classes, recreation centers, bowling alleys, pools, indoor sports facilities

  • Limit indoor facilities to up to 25% capacity, or 50 people, whichever is fewer, per room, so long as people can stay 6 feet apart from each other. 
  • Limit the pool to 25% capacity, or up to 50 people.
  • It is strongly encouraged to limit pool activity to lap swim. If you permit open swim, make efforts to reduce in-pool interactions between people not in the same household.
  • Teams participating in organized recreation against one another, and as a result, experiencing greater contact, should still observe the limit of 25 players, excluding coaches.
  • Use a reservation system or use pre-existing electronic capacity monitoring systems if feasible to space out and limit participants gathered at one time.
  • Discourage use of any shared equipment, and ensure all equipment is cleaned and disinfected in between each use.
  • Take steps, such as closing off a series of lockers to promote physical distancing and reduce gatherings in restrooms, showers, and locker rooms.
  • Maximize ventilation by using fans and opening windows, wherever possible.
  • Provide access to hand sanitizer.
  • Request staff members and patrons wear face coverings when they can do so safely.
  • Conduct symptom and temperature checks for employees and refer symptomatic employees to the CDPHE Symptom Tracker (Additional Guidance).
  • Employees who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms should not come to work.
  • Employees who develop COVID-19 symptoms while at work should immediately notify their supervisor and be separated from others, sent home, and referred to state or company support services.
  • Post signs for employees and customers outlining good hand/respiratory hygiene and safety measures being taken. Signs should be in languages customers will understand. (CDC examples)

Parks

  • Playgrounds may be open to up to 10 people at a time – consider signage with the capacity limit and spacing recommendations.
  • Post signage throughout the area reminding individuals to stay at least 6 feet away from members of other households.
  • Outdoor sports facilities for individual (non-league) use (e.g., tennis courts, basketball courts, pickleball courts, bike tracks, motocross tracks, fields) may be open to up to 25 people at a time per court or per field.
  • Clean frequently touched areas as often is feasible (e.g., park benches or playground equipment).
  • Space out visitor attendance by extending operating hours or limiting capacity whenever possible.

Read the full set of guidelines here.

This news comes after Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order that allows businesses to deny service to customers who don't wear masks.

Are you excited that gyms, pools, parks, and more are open in Colorado? Sound off in the comments below.