(Submitted Photo)

SHERBURNE - While the Rogers Center main building is closed due to the coronavirus, its grounds remain open with Friends of Rogers representatives asking people to maintain social distancing guidelines and keep the grounds clean.

According to Friends of Rogers Executive Director Simon Soloman, the Roger Center in Sherburne will continue to be open for free use, and more people then normal have been utilizing the space.

Soloman said while the center appreciates all of the new visitors, everyone is reminded to please pick up any garbage they may bring to the property. He added that pets aren’t allowed on the property.

“We had someone bury a dirty diaper on the property,” said Soloman. “We’ve had multiple people bring their pets on the property as well, including one person who brought their horse on the trails.”

‘Unfortunately pets aren’t allowed on the property.”

Soloman said the center is grateful for the number of people visiting the center, and it's not uncommon to see between 15 to 30 vehicles in the parking lot during the weekdays.

He said normally there would be a variety of programs, including summer camp, for families to enjoy. He added that this year it's still uncertain if that will be able to take place, but currently the center does have an African Goose for people to observe.

“Don’t touch the goose,” said Soloman. “It’s not native, it got away from a local farm, and it is going to be comfortable with the other geese until they leave in the fall.”

He said the Rogers Center is going to try to get creative with programming for the fall, and while it hasn’t been able to do any fundraising, the center pushes forward.

“We’re just trying to play a lot of things by ear,” said Soloman. “There’s no direction from the government on what we should do with our summer program.”

“We’re trying to look at what’s best for our community.”

He said fundraising hasn’t been easy for the nonprofit with some of its biggest fundraisers being canceled due to the coronavirus.

“This is not an easy situation for anyone; our largest fundraising activity, the Spring Frolic was cancelled, and we’re on our sixth week of closure,” he added. “We are looking to engage the public in the future, within the next couple weeks.”

“For right now I suggest if people really want to explore the property, they should go up on Cush Hill, the wildflowers are in full bloom.”

Soloman said the organization is looking to the government for direction moving forward, but it will continue to put the safety of its staff and the public before everything else.

He said in the meantime, those who are interested in donating to the Rogers Center or becoming a member may visit friendsofrogers.org/get-involved/membership/ for additional information.

“Any membership or donation goes directly toward maintaining the trails and access to the property,” he added. “We have now added an on-line storefront to our website to sell Rogers Center Maple Syrup, t-shirts and other Rogers trinkets such as books, hats and we will even send you fish food by early summer.”