Playgrounds Shut Down By County Exec Due To Coronavirus

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — In light of people and youth continuing to congregate despite Gov. Larry Hogan's stay-at-home order issued Monday, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman has signed an executive order closing all private and community playgrounds to reduce the risk associated with the new coronavirus.

“To slow the spread of this dangerous virus, we must take Governor Hogan’s stay at home order seriously,” said Pittman in a statement. “People should not be congregating during this pandemic. We closed county park playgrounds last week and we are taking this additional step because we have gotten reports that community playgrounds are still being used.”

On Monday, Hogan signed an executive order requiring Marylanders to stay at home except when engaged in certain essential activities such as buying groceries and going to the pharmacy. Outdoor forms of exercise such as jogging, biking, hiking or walking are among the activities still allowed but only if social distancing is employed. The use of playgrounds does not meet this definition, Pittman stated.

The executive order does not prohibit the use of private play equipment on individual residential lots, provided any such use is in compliance with social distancing guidelines required by the governor. Violation of the order is a misdemeanor subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months.

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