SEATTLE — Seattle will open its parks this weekend after they were closed last weekend, because many were getting too crowded. However, the parks will be patrolled to discourage large groups from gathering.
Mayor Jenny Durkan said it’s critical people follow the rules.
“I understand everybody’s need and desire to be outside, but we have just gotta buckle down a little longer,” Durkan said. “Last weekend we had to close the parks because we saw there were too many crowds. What we’re going to do is impose a new normal at our parks, and we’re asking all of Seattle to please help us because we want to keep the parks.”
On Thursday afternoon, KIRO 7 saw crowds at Golden Gardens, which suggests people were craving a chance to be outdoors.
“I was here with a couple friends that I live with, we’re keeping it responsible, and we are just having a barbecue,” said Seattle resident Ronnie Plodzien.
KIRO 7 checked out Thursday how some people were practicing social distancing in some of the most popular areas, and what we saw was surprising.
“If you look over right there, I mean, there’s like 20 people showing up right now. You got like, cars up and down. The whole time there’s been nothing but people at the beach,” Plodzien said.
This weekend, there are concerns it’ll get more crowded, which is why the city will close busy parking lots and deploy 60 social distancing ambassadors to monitor parks and close them if they get too crowded.
“If you go to your neighborhood park and it’s crowded, keep walking. No barbecues, no volleyball games, no group gatherings. We really need to still take this very seriously,” Durkan said.
Durkan said the city’s come too far to let the virus come roaring back. She just hopes people don’t take advantage of the open parks by disregarding the very thing that has helped Seattle flatten the curve.
“We’ve seen in other countries and areas that let up, how the virus suddenly comes back. And we know how hard it’s been over the last six weeks. We don’t wanna start over again,” Durkan said.
The mayor also emphasized the need to wear a face mask as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and she said the ones made at home are really the way to go.
More news from KIRO 7
- Coronavirus: ‘We have a lot more work to do,’ Gov. Inslee says
- Coronavirus updates: Trump gives governors 3-phase plan to reopen economy
- Coronavirus: 4 reasons you didn’t get your stimulus check
- Don’t share your senior year photo, BBB warns
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
© 2020 Cox Media Group
