San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced today that some area parks will begin reopening for individual use starting Tuesday, April 21, although social distancing restrictions will continue to be in place.
At a public briefing this afternoon, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced that starting tomorrow, the city will begin a limited opening of San Diego parks. Physical distancing will still be required and the public is strongly encouraged to wear facial coverings. People will not be permitted to gather in groups, and no active sports will be allowed to take place. Playgrounds will remain closed, as will parking lots. Regional spaces like beaches and boardwalks will remain closed through at least the rest of April.
A full list of parks that will reopen has been published online and copied below for convenience. Mayor Faulconer announced the closure of beaches, parks, boardwalks, bays, city lakes, and hiking trails to the public on March 23 in an effort to battle the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The news of the limited reopening comes after it was announced earlier today that a total of 2,325 people throughout San Diego County have tested positive for the virus, with a total of 72 people dying due to COVID-19. For comparison sake, Los Angeles has had 13,816 positives with 617 deaths, and New York City has had 136,806 positive cases with 10,344 total deaths due to the disease.
Below is the full text of the city's announcement:
A full list of parks that will reopen has been published online and copied below for convenience. Mayor Faulconer announced the closure of beaches, parks, boardwalks, bays, city lakes, and hiking trails to the public on March 23 in an effort to battle the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The news of the limited reopening comes after it was announced earlier today that a total of 2,325 people throughout San Diego County have tested positive for the virus, with a total of 72 people dying due to COVID-19. For comparison sake, Los Angeles has had 13,816 positives with 617 deaths, and New York City has had 136,806 positive cases with 10,344 total deaths due to the disease.
Below is the full text of the city's announcement:
#COVID19 Update: This afternoon Mayor Faulconer announced the City will be reopening some neighborhood and community parks for passive individual use only.
· Parks will be open to the public for the purposes of walking, jogging or hiking. Gathering or congregating in any City park remains prohibited until further notice.
· The public should only visit parks located in their neighborhoods that are easy to walk to and should not be driving to parks. Parking lots will continue to remain closed at City parks until further notice.
· Sports fields (basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts etc.) will remain closed. Gathering in parks to play organized team sports remains prohibited.
· Open trails within open space parks will be available for public use with the exception of Cowles Mountain and Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Trail which will remain closed.
· Comfort stations at local parks will be open and available for public use.
· Most park amenities, including parking lots, recreation centers, swimming pools, school district joint use areas, dog off-leash areas, bicycle pump tracks, skate parks, visitor centers, nature centers, campgrounds, etc. will remain closed until further notice.
· Patrons visiting City parks must continue to maintain Federal, State and Local social distancing guidelines (maintain a distance from non-family members of at least six feet).
· Patrons are strongly encouraged to wear facial coverings while visiting City parks to help reduce potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.
· Balboa Park Central Mesa and all museums will remain closed, while portions of Morley Field and passive sections of the East and West Mesa will be open.
· Mission Bay Park will remain closed.
· Beaches and boardwalks will remain closed.
· City-operated Golf courses (Balboa Park, Mission Bay and Torrey Pines) will remain closed.
While this is encouraging news, we must remain vigilant and continue to do all we can to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Please maintain social distancing and wear a facial covering when out in public. Thank you in advance for continuing to keep yourself and your neighbors safe during this pandemic.
