CAIRO — In her 30-plus years with the Grady County Recreation Department, director Becky Bracewell said she’s never seen Barber Park this empty in the middle of May.

“I have never experienced anything that has been so depressing for our community in parks and rec,” Bracewell said. “It’s just devastating. We don’t have anything for our children.”

Barber Park closed nearly two months ago, just days away from the scheduled beginning of its slate of spring sports. Bracewell said she has taken advantage of the closure get some things done, such as a facility remodeling project that would not have been possible if the park was occupied.

Still, the situation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t ideal.

“I’d much rather be out here with kids running around than where I am today, looking at an empty field and thinking if we’ll get to play this year at all,” she said.

The Recreation Department is waiting for Governor Brian Kemp’s executive order mandating social distancing in public spaces be lifted before they can reopen. Other guidelines limiting the number of people allowed in close proximity also would have to be eased.

Bracewell took part in a virtual meeting with officials from the Georgia Recreation and Park Association, District 3 this week with more than two dozen other agency directors. Just seven of those agency directors, Bracewell among them, remained hopeful for some sort of spring sports within the next few months.

“I would really like to be able to do that,” Bracewell said, “but I would never dare to jeopardize the wellness of our community just to be able to run baseball and softball at Barber Park. The safety of our community will be our number one priority here at the Recreation Department.”

More than 600 participants have already signed up for spring sports, including baseball, softball and t-ball, but Bracewell is unsure if those programs can take place as scheduled. Recreation Department officials are hoping some sort of guidance from the state can come within the next few weeks, and if that happens, Bracewell said the plan is to offer sports programs beginning in the late summer, possibly as early as June.

If not, Grady County children may have to wait until at least the fall before they can play any league sports, though Bracewell said their backup plan would be to start those activities earlier in the year.

In the meantime, Recreation Department facilities such as bathrooms remain closed to discourage people to stay away.

A previously canceled grand opening event for Barber Park’s newly-renovated tennis courts will be held once the governor’s order is lifted.