Stay apart when you use that park, officials say
MIDDLETOWN » Delaware County Councilwoman Elaine Schafer has a message for the many residents who are escaping the confines of home for the freedom of county parks: Remember safe social distancing.
Schafer held a press conference along the 2.8 mile Chester Creek trail Thursday afternoon to highlight the need to defeat the COVID-19 crisis with social distancing, even when outdoors or in the woods.
“It’s critical to observe social distancing when outdoors, as well as while indoors,” Schafer said. “If the trails is crowded go somewhere else or come back later.”
This point struck home in the parking lot of the trail of West Knowlton Road. It was filled to capacity. A number of cars could be seen pulling in, turning around and driving elsewhere.
Schafer pointed out that exercise is good for both physical and mental health but residents who aren’t members of the same household need to stay at least 6 feet apart. She had another request - if you are sick, stay home.
While parks are open, the playgrounds are closed during the crisis as their structures can transmit the virus if someone sick used it previously. Schafer said anything with a physical structure is closed but residents are allowed and encouraged to use open space.
Schafer said residents who are using the parks need to bring their own way and to take the trash with them. Parks have minimal staffing to clean up at this time.
Asked about the challenge of someone approaching too closely, Schafer advised, “I find as soon as you say ‘‘I need you to be 6 feet apart,’ people will pay attention and respect it.”
“It’s frustrating but getting less and less awkward,” Schafer said. “The number one rule when you are walking, enjoying outside is practice the social distancing. Anyone who is not in your immediate household, must be 6 feet apart. If you are passing them on the trail, you have to go around them by 6 feet. If you are passing them in the woods, take a step off trail, so you are 6 feet away as they are going by.”
Schafer said county council has been working nonstop on issues dealing with CORVID-19.
“County council is incredibly busy right now,there is not a whole lot of time for anything but working with this, all day long and all night long,” said Schafer. “It’s a pandemic. Everyday there is something new.”
Schafer said that Radnor has completely closed its public parks as it has one of the highest infection rates per capita in Delaware County, along with Haverford. Upper Darby, with a larger population, has the highest number of cases in the county with 65 residents diagnosed.
As of Thursday evening there had been 469 cases in Delaware County with eight deaths.
As the press conference was wrapping up Park Police Officer Michael Marr happened past to check activity on the trail. He said there haven’t been many complaints but police are checking the trails, Rose Tree Park and Smedley Park to tell people to avoid large gatherings.