Kennywood welcomes visitors with covid-19 safety measures

A Pittsburgh staple reopened Friday — but Kennywood will be a little different this summer.

Visitors will have to pass a temperature screening to enter. Face masks are mandatory. And visitors will have to stand 6 feet apart while they wait in line for rides.

Following the well-known guidelines for coronavirus prevention, Kennywood opened Friday for season-pass holders. The park is scheduled to welcome the general public beginning Monday, spokesman Nick Paradise said.

Hours are shorter to start, with the park open from 1 to 9 p.m. this weekend before expanding hours from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

Workers were eager to return for a belated opening day, Paradise said.

“I think most people are happy to be back,” he said. “The mood has been positive.”

Jason Muggli of Irwin took his family to Kennywood for opening day. The first-year season ticket holder said he’s pleased with Kennywood’s safety practices.

“We were concerned about coming, but it looks like everybody has practiced social distancing. Kennywood is doing a very good job of keeping people apart,” Muggli said. “We came prepared with sanitizer, but we haven’t really needed it since there’s some at every ride.”

Joann Jarzynka of Monroeville brought her 5-year-old granddaughter, Liliya.

“We’re season pass holders, so it was exciting,” Jarzynka said. “Just keep hydrated and wash those hands.”

Nonetheless, Paradise said he understands some people will be apprehensive about returning to an amusement park in the midst of the pandemic.

To ease those concerns, Kennywood has enacted several new safety measures, including the formation of a new Sanitation Response Unit.

Brian Proud is a member of that team. He said he’s confident the park is ready to reopen safely.

“I definitely feel prepared,” Proud said. “We’ve worked virtually around the clock to make sure our guests are safe and our workers have a safe work environment.”

Workers like Proud will be stocking the more than 100 hand sanitizer stations throughout the park, reminding visitors to wear their masks, and encouraging social distancing in lines.

“Safety is our top priority in everything we do,” Paradise said. “While the virus is complicated, a lot of the steps to mitigate it aren’t.”

Workers are well-trained in social distancing and sanitization efforts. Still, Paradise said visitors should also do their part.

“It is a shared responsibility,” he said, urging visitors who see others breaking social-distancing rules to notify the nearest worker.

The park is trying to make the restrictions more bearable by offering three mask-free zones throughout the park, where visitors can take down their masks and breathe freely.

These sites will be monitored for social distancing and guests are encouraged to stay for no more than 10 minutes, as workers will be limiting how many people can visit a mask-free spot at once.

The idea, Paradise said, is to allow people to briefly and safely remove their masks if guests find them difficult to wear for a prolonged period in the heat.

UPMC medics will also be stationed in the park — to make sure no one enters with a fever and to help any visitors who suffer from the heat, particularly with the face mask mandate.

“Hydration is super important, especially with masks,” Paradise said.

Visitors may miss some of their favorite attractions this year. Due to safety concerns, attractions that are deemed “very hard to social distance” or too difficult to properly sanitize aren’t reopening this weekend.

Bumper cars, the Steel Curtain, Sky Coaster and Noah’s Ark are among the attractions that remain closed. Some of these attractions will reopen throughout the summer; others won’t.

Dining options will also a look a little different this year, with the indoor restaurant closed for now. Outdoor tables are spaced for social distancing. Employees will provide individually packaged condiments and pour drinks, rather than letting visitors do so themselves.

Due to occupancy limits, Paradise said visitors should reserve their tickets online in advance. On opening day, the park was operating at 15% capacity.

The state allows up to 50% occupancy in amusement parks, but Paradise said Kennywood officials are taking a gradual, phased approach. Eventually, they’ll allow more guests, open more attractions, and potentially adjust their hours.

“We want to ease into it,” Paradise said. “Things we do will continue to change.”

For those who aren’t ready to return yet, summer passes will extend through next year.