Stop congregating outside or we could lose that, too Lakefront shut down in Chicago Wisconsin parks still open, for now
Chicago had to close parks; groups ruined it for everybody
Attention, Wisconsin: Just because we’re still allowed to go walk, bike and play outside, doesn’t mean social distance rules don’t apply.
Nature does have healing properties — but it’s not that good.
The day Gov. Tony Evers’ safer-at-home order went into effect, when temperatures soared into the 50s, I went for a walk along the Milwaukee River. I observed what one of our photographers captured along the lakefront that day: people not maintaining six feet between themselves and others, and what looked like groups of friends — possibly, people who do not live together — socializing.
As our recreational opportunities are severely limited these days, and as the weather begins to warm, more people are getting outside.
That’s great. But if we’re all getting outside in the same places, we are not going to slow the spread of this virus, and our recreational opportunities are going to become more limited for longer.
Similar images of crowded trails in Chicago emerged this week, and on Wednesday Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot warned she would shut down the city’s parks and trails if people did not follow their governor’s stay-at-home order.
“When we have masses of people out there as I just saw … it’s a problem,” Lightfoot said, according to the Associated Press. “We know what happens when we don’t social distance.”
On Thursday, she followed through, and the city’s lakefront parks, Riverwalk and 606 Trail were closed. Illinois’ state parks have been closed since March 15.
On Tuesday, Great Smokey Mountains National Park — the country’s most popular national park — closed most of its half-million acres to the public until at least April 6.
Before the closure order, about 30,000 people entered the park daily, which resulted in congested conditions at popular locations, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times.
Other popular national parks have also closed, including Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
On Wednesday, the Washington Department of Fishing and Wildlife closed recreational fishing across the state, citing that governor’s stay home and stay healthy order and crowding at some boat ramps and popular river banks.
Wisconsin state parks remain open, but the Department of Natural Resources reiterated the need to maintain social distance when it announced it was waiving entrance fees on Tuesday.
“Distance is key during this public health emergency. Please do not congregate at restrooms, self-registration stations or electronic kiosks. Additionally, do not gather in groups of 10 or more people and maintain six feet of distance from others,” the release said, noting that parks staff and law enforcement would be patrolling parks to make sure people maintained social distance.
On Thursday, the DNR posted another reminder on Facebook, while also encouraging people to stay close to home and within their community if they did go outside.
Milwaukee County Parks, which remain open, issued a similar statement after Evers’ order:
“Our park system is vital to all of us in this difficult time, and we encourage you to enjoy passive recreation activities while being mindful of good social distancing practices. For the health of our community, we need your help to use these resources with awareness while caring for each other.”
I can already hear some of you saying (since I’ve already seen similar thoughts posted on social media), “They can’t actually close parks. How can they prevent you from just walking in?”
Sure, I suppose at the end of the day, you can walk into a park that is closed. But can and should are two different things, and there could be punishment if you disregard closures and social distancing orders.
In Chicago, the police said they would issue a
warning, then a citation, a fine of up to $500, and possible imprisonment if people did not comply.
Evers’ order is enforceable by all law enforcement with fines of up to $250 and up to 30 days in jail.
Even cyclists need to be mindful of social distance right now.
Daniel Lopez-Tan, who works as a long-term care and hospice physician and has a background in internal medicine and geriatrics, is a member of the Tosa Spokesmen, a bike group in Wauwatosa that regularly hosts group rides — which have been canceled, for now. He sent an email to the group emphasizing the need for even more stringent distancing while riding.
“When you are riding in a peloton (group), a single sneeze or cough in the front can mean you’re breathing the air from an infected person ahead of you, obliterating the purpose of 6 feet away,” he said. “Please don’t ride together until this blows over.”
How to get outside and still keep your (social) distance
Beyond the usual directives to stay home if you are sick and wash your hands, here’s my advice — culled from guidance from the CDC, public health experts, and my own time in the outdoors — for getting outside during this time of social distancing:
Assume you and everyone else has coronavirus and could spread it to someone who might die from it. This means anytime you or someone else sneezes, coughs or touches something, you might be spreading the virus — even when you’re outside.
Unless you plan on walking 6 feet apart, only hike with people you live with.
The best hike is the one closest to you. Walk around your block, or at the park down the street. The farther you drive, the more you risk something non-coronavirus-related happening, putting a strain on emergency services and potentially exposing others. Plus, going farther means you might have to stop for gas or to use a bathroom — another touch point that could risk exposing yourself and others.
Stay away from busy trails. If you get somewhere and see that there are a lot of people, go back home or find another spot.
Get outside early or later in the day. If a trail or park near you is busy, trying going at a different time of day — early in the morning or closer to sunset are usually less busy.
Save the new-to-you (and extreme) sports and trails for later. Our health care system is already stressed. Don’t be that person who has to go to the ER because you broke an arm while learning to unicycle, or the person who needs rescue from some remote forest trail because you twisted an ankle.
Follow leave-no-trace principles. This is evergreen advice for whenever you’re outdoors, but it’s even more important now as facilities have fewer staff members maintaining them. Basically, leave a place how you found it. Take all your garbage with you — including picking up after your pet — and don’t damage trails, trees or anything else.
Finally, don’t be a jerk. Some more evergreen advice. Be conscious of your surroundings. If you’re hiking with a partner and someone is approaching you from the opposite direction, hike single file so you can pass safely. If you’re cycling on a multi-use trail, slow down when you’re passing walkers.
We’re all in this together, and if we all follow the rules, we’ll get through this safer, faster and with our outdoor spaces still open to us.