OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward Pavilions at Russell Joy Park will sit empty for a while longer as rentals are not yet being offered.

It’s going to be some time before pavilion rentals at Russell Joy Park in the village of Fredonia will take place.

In a statement from Recreation Department Director Tom Battaglia due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, pavilion reservations in the village of Fredonia for 2021 will not be taken at this time.

“We haven’t been able to rent pavilions since the state put restrictions on gatherings outside which was before we even got into the season last year,” Battaglia said. “We don’t even begin renting pavilions until May. Our plan was to reschedule, but that was before anyone realized how long this would last. I had taken all the information, given it to the treasurer and then had to send out refund checks. So instead of doing that this year, we’re not.”

Battaglia is a department of one person unless it’s summer then he has staff for the kids. He also shared that there is a part-time park attendant as well; their job, however, is just to open and close the park and then clean the bathrooms once a day. With the current requirements by New York state, the attendant would have to be there around the clock to clean the bathroom constantly which the village is not ready to do.

“We don’t want to, as a municipality, encourage any gatherings like that,” Battaglia added. “We’re a village government, part of New York State, we’re expected to uphold these laws, regardless of what anyone feels about them, this is what we have to do. I don’t want to open us up to any liability.”

Battaglia said that currently the parks are open and that people can use the pavilions, but it’s more like a first come, first serve.

“We’re just not charging right now until we’re out from these restrictions,” Battaglia said. “Most people are very compliant, you don’t have to do anything, people don’t want to be sick, there’re so many unknowns to it. Once we get a date from the state that these restrictions are going to be lifted then I’d make another announcement for the first month Fredonia and Pomfret residents would have the opportunity to come in and rent the pavilions before neighboring communities.”

For further information Battaglia asks citizens to call the village of Fredonia Recreation Department at 673-2311 or email to fredrec@netsync.net.