Shanklin Park, 411 W. Plymouth Ave., will be the new location for the Center for Healing and Hope COVID-19 testing site beginning Monday, Dec. 14.

The change of location is an effort to create a better-suited space for the vehicular traffic the site generates. The Center for Healing and Hope is a drive-through testing site for both uninsured and insured people in the region. Tests are available to everyone, regardless of symptoms. Over the last month, the organization has seen a sharp increase in residents seeking to get tested.

“We knew the holidays and moving indoors due to cold weather would create more opportunity for community spread of the virus and more demand for testing,” says Executive Director Missy Schrock. “We knew we were outgrowing our current site and partnering with the City to improve our program has been an excellent solution.”

The park will offer more room for community members visiting the site and will alleviate traffic issues on city streets. Shanklin park will remain open to the public during park hours, dawn to dusk, but park visitors may encounter an increase in park traffic on testing days.

“The Center for Healing and Hope testing site has been an important resource for the community during the pandemic, so we saw it as vital to help in any way we could.” Mayor Jeremy Stutsman said. “The City will continue to aid any community efforts in the fight to eliminate this virus”

In order to maintain easy access to the public recycling site at Shanklin, the recycling containers will be relocated to the park’s south parking lot (visible from Plymouth Avenue).

Please contact the Center for Healing and Hope at 574-534-4744 or visit their website for testing information at chhclinics.org. The testing site at 902 South Main Street will remain open Friday and Saturday this week, and will continue serving residents on a first-come, first-serve basis. The testing site is normally closed on Thursdays, but will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve for limited hours.

Testing hours of operation:

• Mondays and Wednesdays: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Thursday, December 24 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Thursday, December 31 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.