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Under Phase 2 of Governor Roy Cooper's Reopen NC Plan, many Roanoke Rapids city parks and recreational facilities remain closed or underutilized due to state guidelines and restrictions. 

As all three public school districts in Halifax County announced their intentions to start the 2020-2021 school year under Plan C — 100 percent virtual learning — the city's administration recognized that some families and students may be in need of public spaces with reliable Wi-Fi, Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle said. “City staff worked quickly to identify our indoor and outdoor public facilities that offered free public Wi-Fi, and then determined which spaces were most easily accessible.”

Caudle said the 1026 Urban Greenspace came to the top of the list. “It's not under any phase restrictions due to COVID, offers fast and reliable free public Wi-Fi, is centrally located with ample parking and is fully ADA — Americans with Disabilities Act — compliant.”

The only thing missing was tables to allow for optimal work spaces so Caudle reached out to Parks and recreation Director John Simeon to come up with a temporary solution. 

Simeon and his team identified picnic tables that were located at closed or underutilized parks and recreation facilities under the current COVID-19 phase guidelines and restrictions. 

On Friday, these furnishings were temporarily relocated to the Urban Greenspace at 1026 Roanoke Avenue. 

Tables were placed to allow for social distancing and the city recommends all patrons follow current COVID-19 state guidelines including the three Ws — wear a facial covering, wait six feet apart and wash hands frequently. 

"We hope this temporary seating at 1026 will help students and families successfully access and participate in virtual learning in the coming weeks,” Caudle said. "Whether it's a local high school student that doesn't have reliable internet at home or a young family seeking a creative place for their elementary-age children to participate in live virtual sessions, we believe the Urban Greenspace provides the perfect temporary outdoor work space for our citizens."