Coronavirus: East Providence Closes Playgrounds

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — East Providence has put up signs at city playgrounds informing residents the playgrounds are closed to help the city enforce social distancing mandates. There is no access to the playgrounds until further notice.

The signs advise frequent hand washing, social distancing and staying at home, while discouraging getting together in groups and touching your face. The decision to close the parks was made following Gov. Gina Raimondo's stay-at-home order on Saturday announcing the closing of all non-essential business and restricting all gatherings in the state to five people or less.

While the city playgrounds as closed immediately, Gov. Gina Raimondo during her Tuesday press conference announced that all state beaches and parks will be closed as of Friday due to repeated cases of crowd gathering.

Attention Townies and visitors to East Providence: you’ll be seeing signs like this throughout the city. @_bob_dasilva wants us to be safe. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/4toV3tIsLm
— CityofEastProvidence (@CityofEastProv) March 31, 2020

"That has to end. It should have already ended," Raimondo said.

Starting Friday, parking lots will be closed until further notice to prevent Rhode Islanders from gathering at these public spaces. In addition, the opening of state campgrounds will be delayed until at least May 1.

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