Rec department polling parents on youth seasons

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The Sumter Recreation and Parks Department is working through its options as it determines the feasibility of restarting youth sports this summer after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Recreation and Parks director Phil Parnell said the department sent out a poll to parents to gauge interest in playing baseball and softball this summer. Parnell also noted that having a season isn't the only option. If parents are concerned about having a season this summer, the department is open to hosting weekly camps to give kids an outlet to play baseball and softball.

The department will make a decision on the summer season after seeing the responses from the poll.

The pandemic caused sports across the country to be shut down in the middle of March, but South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced on May 20 that sports would be able to return. Sports organizations across the state have been slowly coming up with plans to implement that return.