PITTSBURGH (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) – Two Pennsylvania indoor waterparks have sued Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine in federal court over the latest COVID-19 shutdown orders, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Woodlands at St. Barnabas and Kalahari Resorts say that they comply with the CDC guidelines and there is no evidence of COVID-19 spreading at their facilities.
Kalahari, which is in the Poconos, says the shutdown during one of their busiest times of their year is projected to cost them $10 million.
Both parks say the shutdown is an "arbitrary decision" that allows some businesses to open and others to close. The suit says that other businesses have greater person-to-person contact yet are allowed to remain open.
"Defendants' shutdown orders permit countless patrons to walk the narrow shopping aisles of retail stores, such as: Walmart, Sam's Club, Home Depot and their local malls, but prohibit any patron from swimming in Plaintiffs' waterparks and pools," the suit says.
The waterparks are considered entertainment facilities, which were instructed to close until January 4th, along with theaters, bowling alleys, casinos, gyms, and indoor restaurants.
The attorney for the waterparks is looking for a ruling declaring the shutdowns unconstitutional and a temporary restraining order allowing the businesses to continue operating through January 4th. "The suit is also asking for a permanent injunction barring the governor from 'arbitrarily prohibiting' parks from operating,' the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
