Kennywood, Sandcastle postpone openings

Kennywood and Sandcastle will postpone a planned reopening Monday, park officials announced Thursday.

Allegheny County officials announced additional restrictions on businesses and public gatherings amid a weeklong spike in covid-19 cases.

“While we are looking forward to the start of our summer season, we understand the reasoning behind the recent order and stay-at-home request, and will do our part by postponing our scheduled July 6 opening,” parks officials wrote in a statement on the Kennywood website.

Health and safety plans for the parks’ reopening were laid out last month.

When the parks do open, tickets no longer will be sold at the gates, and ticket sales for community or school district days will be done online.

The move is meant to limit the number of people in the park to make social distancing easier, according to park spokesman Nick Paradise. In addition, employees also will limit the number of people on each ride, in each pool and in all restaurants and other park buildings.

“We will continue to work toward opening this summer as soon as safely possible and providing the clean, safe and fun experience we have been proud to provide for the Greater Pittsburgh Area since 1898,” the statement reads.

Idlewild Park & SoakZone in Ligonier Township is planning a soft opening next week, according to the health and safety page on its website, with season pass holder previews and an official opening day on Saturday, July 11.