After a year-long ban, Atlanta Public Schools will allow groups to use and rent its outdoor facilities.
Starting Monday, community organizations can once again access the district’s parking lots, fields, playgrounds and stadiums.
“Our partners and community members using those facilities must observe protocols and guidelines as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control,” APS said in its announcement.
The district blocked group sports or events from the sites as part of its COVID-19 response.
The updated rules will allow groups such as Northside Youth Lacrosse to resume use of Sutton Middle School field, previously closed to the league.
APS will continue to restrict interior usage and rentals of facilities through the start of next school year in August 2021. APS summer school partners are exempt. We will resume exterior partner and community usage and rentals of APS properties, beginning Monday, March 29. pic.twitter.com/mCDgUsPE3d
— ATL Public Schools (@apsupdate) March 19, 2021
The district’s stance frustrated some parents, which Superintendent Lisa Herring acknowledged in a February meeting hosted by North Atlanta Parents for Public Schools.
At the time, she said district officials first wanted to complete the phased-in return of students to school buildings, which occurred in late January and February. She said schools needed time to assess capacity and their own needs before spaces opened to community groups.
The district still is restricting rentals and uses of interior spaces “through the start of next school year,” with the exception of groups involved in summer school activities.
A few months ago, APS gave special permission to allow the latest installment of “Spider-Man” to film at two high schools.
In September, APS reopened tracks and playgrounds for individual use during limited hours.
