Playgrounds in California allowed to stay open under regional stay at home order

CALIFORNIA, USA — Now that The Greater Sacramento Region, which includes Sacramento, Yolo and Placer counties, has officially reached an ICU capacity below 15%, the area is going into a new stay-at-home order. 

However, this order will look different from March's shelter-in-place lockdown. One difference that will surely lift some parents' worries about quarantining with the family again is that outdoor playgrounds and parks will be allowed to stay open.

Director of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment for the city of Sacramento Mario Lara spoke to ABC10 about being able to stay open despite what happened during the last stay-at-home order.

"The early indication was that playgrounds would have been closed, but we are pleased—I'm pleased, as a Parks Director, I'm pleased that the playgrounds will remain open," Lara said.

In March, all playgrounds and play spaces—indoor and outdoor—were closed throughout the summer. The state reopened outdoor playgrounds in late Sep., but the new regional stay-at-home order guidelines stated that officials would have to close them again. 

California quietly revised this portion of its guidance, now stating that outdoor playgrounds can stay open as an essential outdoor activity. 

"Playgrounds may remain open to facilitate physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise," The Regional Stay-at-Home Order states in an FAQ section. 

This comes as a welcome relief to many who have perhaps struggled to explain to their young ones why the empty jungle gyms have been off limits for months. 

"From a parks perspective, we understand the tremendous need—especially during this time when people are cooped up, there's not a whole lot that they can do—the need for those spaces like playgrounds and other open spaces to be available to the community," Lara said.

For parks departments across the state, it's been an fluid situation with COVID-19.

"With the ever-changing environment, it's very dynamic. It's been challenging, but we've been maintaining our open spaces, outdoor recreation spaces," Lara said. 

Parks maintenance workers are considered essential, and the city of Sacramento has been providing them with the necessary PPE to do their jobs safely. Lara said that staff has been "up for the task" of making sure the parks are ready for visitors.

For visitors, there have been some modifications to playgrounds and parks, in general. Additional signage has been added targeted toward children.

"We have placed little stickers on the playground to help people and children to understand what that six foot distance is, and we've place signage on the playgrounds so that people can use it responsibly," Lara said. 

The biggest challenge for Lara has been that people, especially youths, want to play sports with a group of people. With the great green expanse of Sacramento's parks, it is certainly tempting to hit the basketball court or soccer field with your friends. However, this could put you and others at risk of contracting coronavirus.

City of Sacramento parks are open, Lara said, but people are encouraged to not gather and to only interact with people from their own households. Public restrooms are open as well. Community centers and senior centers remain closed to the pubic.

Here are some other steps parents and their children can take when safely visiting an outdoor playground: 

1. Use face coverings worn over the mouth and nose.
2. If the playground is busy and you can't maintain six feet of distance from other families or children, check back another time. 
3. Don't eat or drink in the playground. This guideline may be in place at your local playground to further encourage that face coverings be worn at all times.
4. Wash or sanitize your hands before and after using the playground.
5. Community members who are elderly or who have underlying medical conditions should avoid the playground when others are present.
6. Limit your visits to 30 minutes per day, so other people can enjoy the parks. 
7. Follow the rules listed at the park for the maximum numbers of children allowed at one time.

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