For Immediate Release
September 28, 2020
California Legislators Call for Immediate Action so Theme Parks Can Reopen Responsibly
SACRAMENTO – Nineteen members of the California Legislature today called for immediate action from the Newsom Administration to allow for the responsible reopening of California’s theme parks, including Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm and other venues.
The Senators and Assembly members who signed the letter, led by Assembly member Sharon Quirk-Silva, Chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee, asked the Newsom Administration to promptly provide the theme park industry
with guidance for reopening, and to place these parks appropriately within the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
The letter noted:
- Theme parks have spent the last six months preparing to reopen in a responsible manner.
- They have comprehensive plans that include capacity reductions, thorough health and safety protocols, and park-wide modifications to support these efforts.
- Many indoor facilities are already operating safely at reduced capacities, with face covering and physical distancing requirements, and with heightened hygiene practices. Logic would suggest that since theme parks are controlled venues operating predominantly outdoors, that they too could reopen with similar health and safety protocols.
- Theme parks across the US and around the world have reopened and outbreaks of COVID19 are not being traced back to these parks.
California theme parks are ready to reopen responsibly with implementation of best practices for protecting health and safety. However, the Newsom Administration has yet to provide the theme park industry with guidance documents so they can ensure that their preparations are
consistent with state expectations.
Theme parks in California voluntarily shut down last March to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Since then theme parks have developed comprehensive draft guidelines with input from international health and safety experts and have shared these drafts with the Newsom Administration.
In their letter to Governor Newsom the legislators said, “…we all share a commitment to health and safety and letting science and data guide our decisions. Data seems to point to a path for responsible reopening of theme parks. Doing so will not only provide safe, outdoor activities for families but also put people back to work and generate much needed income for our local governments.”
Contact: Erin Guerrero, Executive Director at California Attractions and Parks Association at erin.guerrero@capalink.org; (916) 706-2939.
###