As the weather in Michigan is starting to warm up, a number of Grand Rapids residents have taken to visiting parks as a way of getting out of the house. However, officials say, this is causing some overcrowding, when residents should be practicing social distancing.
Now city officials are saying “enough” and effective immediately, public touchpoint amenities in city parks are closed until further notice. These include playgrounds, exercise equipment, disc golf courses, basketball courts, soccer fields, and picnic shelters and picnic tables.
David Marquardt is the Director of Parks and Recreation at the City of Grand Rapids.
“So, the Kent County Health department who the city is working very closely with has been advising that to the extent possible owners and operators of equipment like the kind that we have within our parks system do their best to limit access to what they are referring to as really common touch point amenities.”
Statewide, overcrowding at public spaces is also becoming a problem.
Ron Olson, is the chief of the Parks and Rec Department at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He says, they have seen a surge of visitors in the last week.
“We’ve only closed one area called the Tippy Dam State Recreation area up in Manistee County in the Manistee River. It’s a popular fishing spot and we were having lots of people gather to fish.”
Olson says all campgrounds are closed to the public until further notice. And while Ottawa and Muskegon have not made the decision to close their parks, they have limited access to some amenities like bathrooms and nature centers.
Meanwhile in Grand Rapids, warnings and tickets will be given to those who violate the orders.
