The Heritage Park Petting Farm, closed for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, will open to the public June 19. The farm will be open all weekend from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (final admission). Regular hours will continue on Tuesdays through Sundays throughout the season. The farm is closed on Mondays.
The farm is on the corner of Pardee and Northline roads.
Since Michigan remains in a state of emergency, guidelines are in place for all visitors to the Petting Farm, Manager Melanie Shihadeh said.
“First and foremost, we hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy,” she said. “We have received questions from the community about if and how COVID-19 will change the way we operate our venue. After careful consideration, we are excited to let you know that we plan to reopen while following Centers for Disease Control guidance to protect our guests, staff, and our community.
“The health and safety of our visitors, staff and other patrons remains our highest priority.”
The following are frequently asked questions for the reopening of the farm:
What changes can I expect upon arrival? In order to maintain the mandated social distancing guidelines, we will not be permitting guests to enter the barn to visit the animals. Visitors will be permitted to visit with the animals in their outside pastures. You must maintain six feet distance from other farm patrons at all times. All guests will enter through the visitor center of the farm and will follow the marked one-way path around to visit all the animals. All guests will be guided to exit the farm through the parking lot exit. Entry and exit points will be clearly marked.
Do I have to wear a mask? All people above the age of 2 must wear a face mask while inside the building to comply with current regulations. There will be hand sanitizer available when you enter and exit the farm. However, you are not required to wear a mask outside to visit the animals, but are most welcome wear one throughout your visit.
Will I need to sign in? The staff will ask for the name, address and phone number for each person in your group. Staff is required to collect and maintain this information in case you need to be notified if someone was at the facility later tests positive for COVID-19.
Will the Farm still be offering birthday party rentals? Yes, there will be an initial capacity limit to each party of 30 patrons, which is 50 percent of our room rental capacity. There will also only be one party package available for purchase during this time
Has the staff been adequately trained in hygiene and sanitation? Yes. The farm staff have been trained on cleaning, hygiene and sanitation. They will practice social distance with the patrons, and with each other, whenever possible. A farm supervisor or manager will be on duty at all times.