City Playgrounds Reopen After COVID-19 Closures In March
Los Altos, Calif. — October 23, 2020 —The City continues to carefully reopen high-touch surfaces closed in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
With Santa Clara County's recent transition into the Orange Tier of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, City playgrounds will now be accessible to the public. Playgrounds are the latest addition to available park amenities, which previously included parks, trails, open spaces, and public restrooms. Benches, picnic tables, and barbecue grills will remain closed.
"With flu season fast approaching and COVID-19 still prevalent, we are acting cautiously to ensure a safe environment by establishing rules so our residents and visitors can enjoy playgrounds again," said Donna Legge, Director of Recreation and Community Services.
The community is reminded that the coronavirus pandemic is still impacting California. We must recognize our actions play a vital role in slowing the spread; following the county and state's established guidance is necessary for achieving that.
Here are several guidelines to remember while enjoying our playgrounds:
- Stay a Safe Distance— Always maintain a distance of six feet or more around those who are not within your immediate household. Residents are asked to leave if there are too many people to allow for an appropriate physical distancing.
- Stay Covered— The state and the county require individuals to wear a face covering outdoors when maintaining a safe distance is not feasible; always have a mask ready. Masks should not be removed to consume food or drinks.
- Keep Clean— Wash and/or sanitize your hands before and after use.
- Share Our Space— To help minimize over-crowding limit your visit to 30 minutes or less.
- Plan Ahead— Visit the playground on different days or times to avoid crowds.
- Know When to Stay Home— High-risk individuals or those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should remain at home.
City staff will continue to share engaging activities on the Recreation Facebook and Instagram channels. The Recreation Department encourages the community to participate and share how they enjoy our local park spaces with the hashtags #FunAtHome and #LosAltosRec.
For more information on Los Altos' precautionary measures implemented to mitigate coronavirus, please visit www.losaltosca.gov/covid19.
