**Edited for Clarity and Grammar/Spelling**

To Governor Larry Hogan, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, Anne Arundel County Officials and Health Department, Blackstreet Capital Holdings (Piney Orchard Ice Rink Owner); Murry Gunty- 

Today on 9/20/2020 parents of the Anne Arundel county hockey players were informed that parents of players are not allowed to stay in the parking lot while players are on the ice. The only people permitted to park at Piney Orchard Ice Arena are rostered coaches, one team manager per team, one score keeper per team, one videographer per team and players who drive themselves to the rink. Parents will be asked to leave the parking lot after dropping off their child. This has brought up many safety concerns that need to be addressed by rink ownership and county officials.

The local hockey parents have children ranging in ages from 5-18 years old, ie: minors. One major safety concern is if any medical emergency were to happen parents or guardians would not be present. The ice arena and staff are not licensed child care providers. Instead of being steps outside, they have prohibited parents from the parking lot and instead suggested parking at the local grocery store half a mile away. Coaches are now on the ice providing childcare since no minor has a parent/guardian present. 

We are told that players must come fully dressed, which brings up a concern with car safety. Younger children are still in 5-point-harness or booster seats. The seat belts and car seats are unsafe when a child is in hockey gear. If a child does need to get dressed in the car, we were told we could go to a local shopping center parking lot. Children should NOT be changing in the parking lot of a random public grocery store where anyone could be watching. 

We the parents of Anne Arundel Hockey Players then ask Anne Arundel County Health Department, why is Piney Orchard Ice Arena not allowed to have parents in the parking lot? Anne Arundel County Parks and Recs have been hosting sports programs at schools and park facilities with parking lots full. We understand there were issues that have been  addressed such as tailgating. On 9/19/2020 the fire department and health department were present at the rink and there were no excess groups or parties in the lot; nothing that violates the county ordinance that “Prohibits indoor social gatherings of more than 25 people and outdoor social gatherings of more than 50 people”. 

We then ask Blackstreet Capital Holdings; Murry Gunty, why is Piney Orchard Ice Arena not allowed to have one parent per player inside the ice rink? Anne Arundel county has gyms, restaurants and bars open to 50% capacity. With the ice rink having a capacity of 3,000 there is no reason why one parent can't be allowed in wearing a mask and social distancing. Two rinks within 20 minutes have opened up with the rule one parent per player. One rink is also in a county with higher covid-19 numbers. 

Parents of Anne Arundel Hockey Players do NOT think that shutting down the parking lot and removing all parents from the property is an acceptable response. 

INSTEAD WE ASK:

1. Open the parking lot. Let parents be ON SITE in case of emergency, medical or otherwise. One suggestion would be car tags or placards that have player affiliation to match the practice schedule and be verified by rink staff upon arrival.
2.  Enforce social distancing in the parking lot and on property by patrolling to dissuade tailgating and gatherings of outdoor groups of MORE THAN 50 people per county regulations.
3. Consider allowing one parent per child into the rink. This will lessen the amount of people lingering in the lots and lessen temptation to gather outdoors. Mark spaces along the glass and in the bleachers for single parents or guardians to stand.
4. Turn the parking lot into a one way circle, allowing easy drop off in the front of the building, and pick up in the rear. Require the coaches to stay with the kids until the entire team has been picked up. (We had kids still looking for parents after coaches had left.)

Please sign! Let the kids play! Let parents in! Let parents park!

Parents: if you feel the same please post! Email any of these officials!

Steuart Pittman, Anne Arundel County Executive: spittman@aacounty.org

Andrew Pruski, A A County Council District 4: andrew.pruski@aacounty.org

Brian Kemmet, A A County District 4 Legislative Assistant: bkemmet@aacounty.org

Trisha L. Wolford, Anne Arundel County Fire Chief: firechief@aacounty.org

Blackstreet Capital Holdings (Piney Orchard Ice Rink Owner); Murry Gunty: info@blackstreetcapital.com

Mike Mulhall, USA Hockey Youth Council Southeastern District: mikem@xicenter.com