For the protection of public health and safety, the City has made the difficult decision to close the Old Town Winchester (OTW) splash pad and adjoining public restrooms for the remaining 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The splash pad and restrooms are located on the south end of the Loudoun Street Mall (between Cork Street and Boscawen Street).
The Winchester Fire and Rescue Department (WFRD) and the Winchester City Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) will be hosting the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive on Friday, July 17 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The drive will be held at the Jim Barnett Park Rec Center, 1001 East Cork Street in Winchester.
In observance of the Independence Day holiday, the City of Winchester will operate the following schedule.
City administrative offices will be closed on Friday, July 3. Online services are available on our website, if needed.
WinTran routes will be canceled on Friday, July 3.
The Joint Judicial Center (courts) will be closed Friday, July 3.
Refuse Collection Schedule Change:
The City of Winchester’s bond rating has once again been affirmed by S&P Global Ratings to ‘AAA,’ the highest possible rating, in advance of the City’s upcoming General Obligation bond sale scheduled for June 23. The rating reflects an unbiased assessment of the credit-worthiness of the City’s debt obligations to investors in the public financial market. The higher the rating, the greater the likelihood of full and timely repayment of the debt which equates to lower risk to investors and lower interest rates to municipalities.
Virginia’s Cooling Assistance applications are now being accepted. There are three ways to apply for Cooling Assistance benefits:
The application deadline is August 15.
Effective immediately, all WinTran routes, including paratransit, will be canceled for approximately two weeks due to a positive COVID-19 case.
“The safety of our employees and passengers is priority. We regret having to cancel the routes for this extended period of time, but because all WinTran staff will have to quarantine for the recommended 14 days, the cancellation is unavoidable,” stated Public Services Director Perry Eisenach.
In a show of solidarity, a joint statement by the City of Winchester’s Mayor John David Smith, Winchester Police Chief John R. Piper, and Winchester’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Chapter President W. Thea Thomas has been released in response to the tragic recent death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd. As in many cities across the United States, residents of Winchester have been deeply affected by Floyd’s death.
On Friday, June 5, 2020, an ‘I Can’t Breathe’ event and walk, organized by community members, will be held in Old Town Winchester. To ensure the safety of event attendees and downtown visitors during this permitted event, the City is releasing information regarding the associated street closures and the planned route for the walk.
Winchester Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the re-opening of their all-day summer childcare program on June 8. Registration will only be accepted over the phone and on designated days and times (June 1-3).
Due to COVID-19 and associated restrictions implemented by the Commonwealth, the outdoor pool in Jim Barnett Park did not open on Memorial Day weekend as in years past. However, Winchester Parks and Recreation is planning to open the pool on Monday, June 1, 2020 for lap swimming and swim team practices for several local programs. General swimming will not be permitted until it is safe to do so and the Governor lifts restrictions.