The slides, climbing equipment and all the other playful amenities that make Phifer’s Ice Dam Park the colorful attraction that it is remain in place.

But, late Thursday morning, there sat the Franklin Township playground, barren and desolate of any activity in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Yellow caution tape has been placed at the entrance to the playground to signify that it will be closed to the public until further notice.

Franklin isn’t the only local municipality to close its playground on account of the coronavirus.

Lower Towamensing Township secretary Christine Wentz said that the Aquashicola Playground on Pine Street behind the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company was shut down Thursday, while fencing was put up around the Stoney Ridge Park on Fireline Road.

Palmerton Borough Manager Donna McGarry said the borough shut down its playground in its borough park last week Friday.

And while residents are welcome to use the borough park, that doesn’t mean groups of people should flock to it.

“We are encouraging people to use the park, but not as a group,” McGarry said. “We did have a group the other day and had the police department ask them to break it up because it’s not considered to be a safe activity.”

McGarry stressed that doesn’t mean a family can’t take their children to the borough park altogether.

“Certainly it’s there if people want to kick a soccer ball with their children,” she said. “But no group activities.”

McGarry said two more playground facilities, Elmer Valo Field on South Third Street, as well as one in the West End, are currently shut down as well.

Chestnuthill Township last week closed the park on Route 715 in Brodheadsville to deter group activities and use of the basketball courts, volleyball courts and restroom facilities.

On Monday, Tamaqua Borough announced that all its playgrounds and basketball courts are closed until further notice.

Earlier this week, Jim Thorpe Borough announced that its borough parks and Sam Miller Field are also closed until further notice.

While a vast majority of playgrounds have been shut down, that hasn’t been the case in Slatington.

Borough manager Dan Stevens said the Walnut Street Playground next to Slatington Borough Hall remained open as of Thursday afternoon.