To discourage public gatherings the City of Seattle will be closing 15 parks this weekend, including Golden Gardens park and beach.
The closure will go into effect at 11pm today (April 10), and will include the following parks: Alki, Arboretum, Cal Anderson, Carkeek, Discovery, Gas Works, Green Lake, Golden Gardens, Kubota Garden, Lincoln, Magnuson, Seward, Volunteer, West Seattle Stadium, and Woodland. Parks will reopen Monday (April 12) at 4:30am.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says the closure is necessary because residents are still gathering for pickup games, barbecues, and picnics in popular parks around the city.
“These are the beautiful weather days we crave all winter, but we are living in unprecedented times and the Governor’s order isn’t stay out – it’s stay home,” Mayor Durkan said in a statement about the weekend closure.
“Too many friends, residents and families are continuing to gathering for picnics, BBQs, basketball games, and group walks. Because we still are in danger of a spike in infections, hospitalizations and deaths we have to keep doing our part. Easing up on social distancing too early will put more people at risk, could overwhelm our health care system, and could delay the reopening of businesses.”
Seattle Parks staff and Seattle Police will be monitoring parks over the weekend to ensure compliance.
Neighborhood parks will remain open, and the 15 parks will be reopened on Monday. However, the closures could be extended and more widespread if visitors don’t follow safety guidelines.
As a reminder, parking lots at these popular parks will remain closed until the stay-home order is lifted.
why not just arrest those gathering together. Not restrict all. i know the city doesn’t want to arrest drug dealers, but surely families can be locked up for 24 hrs. that should be a lesson.
looking forward to all the positive comments from all the lovilies here.