250 People At Playground Leads HoCo Officials To Shut Park Gates

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — As the increasing number of new coronavirus cases prompts Maryland authorities to ask people to practice social distancing, the Howard County Recreation and Parks Department has shut down all county park gates. However, people wanting fresh air and a stroll in nature are allowed in the parks via access walking paths, the department said.

"Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming popularity of our parks these past couple of days, the decision was made yesterday evening to close all county park gates. Over the last two days, recreation and parks staff have been monitoring our parks to see how they are being used. What we have observed is that while enjoying our parks, the social distancing practices we’ve been instructed to follow by federal, state and local health officers are not being followed," the department posted on its Facebook page.

For updates on the coronavirus in Maryland, get Patch news alerts.

In fact, at one point, recreation and parks staff found more than 250 people on and around a playground, an estimated 50 people on a basketball court and the parking area at Centennial Park South almost full.

"In an effort to protect public health and curtail the spread of the coronavirus, the difficult decision was made to close our park gates to prevent motorists from driving into our parks and hopefully control these large crowds," the post said. "We recognize that our parks and trails are a helpful place to get fresh air and exercise during this difficult time, but this decision was of utmost importance and a necessary precaution as we work to stop the spread. Please note, while our parks may still be accessed by foot, the restrooms within all our parks are currently closed and park patrons are urged to stay off playground equipment, as their cleanliness cannot be guaranteed."

Read More:

• 3 New Coronavirus Cases Identified In Howard County
• MD Governor Orders Restaurants, Bars, Gyms, Theaters To Close
• Free Lunches, Breakfast Available To Howard County Students
• MD Grocery Stores Cut Hours For Coronavirus Cleaning, Restocking
• First Responders Will Wear Special Gear During HoCo's Coronavirus