SALISBURY — One of multiple coronavirus-related changes announced Monday, Rowan County government said park hours would be extended to 7 p.m. for families to use Wi-Fi connectivity during school closures.

Those extended hours do not apply to playgrounds and shelters at parks, which will be closed. Staff will be in contact with people who need a refund or to schedule a later date.

All amenities and attractions at Dan Nicholas Park will be closed until April 14, including the train, carousel, mini-golf, gem mine, paddle boats, Rowan Wild and the Barnyard and Nature Center. Programming has been canceled until April 14, too.

The campground at Dan Nicholas Park will remain open to the public.

Other changes announced Monday include:

• The Rowan Public Library will offer curbside service at each branch to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Patrons can place online holds for materials they want to check out or call their nearest branch and place “to go” orders. Patrons can then drive to the branch where they placed the order, park in identified spaces and let staff inside know they have arrived by calling a number posted on signs.

Once patrons call the number, staff will bring orders to vehicles. The curbside service can also be used to drop off books.

Numbers for curbside service are as follows
• Headquarters (Salisbury) – 704-216-8234
• East Branch (Rockwell) – 704-216-7842
• South Branch (China Grove) – 704-216-7728

The “stacks” at all three Rowan Public Library branches will be closed to the public, meaning that patrons who choose to come inside instead of using the curbside service will need to ask staff to retrieve books and other items.

• The Rowan County Animal Shelter will suspend the intake of all non-emergency, owner-surrendered animals.

Any emergency owner surrender situations must be facilitated through scheduling an appointment by calling 704-216-7768.

In an announcement, the shelter said it will also make efforts to limit the intake of non-emergency stray animals. Those who have found a stray animals should also call 704-216-7768.

The shelter said it was implementing the changes “to help protect our employees, our community and the animals in our care.”