Locals relax at parks and reflect on circumstances

On a a cloudy, unseasonably cool Friday lunch hour, local citizens with an unusual amount of free time find themselves enjoying the local city parks. Amid pandemic concerns they stay apart from each other, yet clearly demonstrate a sense of stir-craziness and a desire to see the end of this state of affairs.

“I still feel safe being in a public area like Spring Lake Park,” said Luchonda Chenier of Texarkana, Arkansas. “I take precautions, wash my hands, use hand sanitizers. I had a family member from Louisiana who died from coronavirus, so this is on my mind.”

Chenier works at Theron Jones Elementary School as a teacher’s aide and admits she cannot wait until the situation becomes more normal.

“I’m looking forward to things settling down,” she said. “I miss my kids.”

Laquita Green of Texarkana, Texas, and a teacher at Theron Jones, agrees.

“I do think everyone is taking (the virus situation) it seriously,” she said. “The park isn’t crowded. But I think we are getting close to where activity can, should return to normal. I do miss the kids and it is time to go back to work.”

Monique Pumphrey, also a teacher at the same institution, is cautious.

“I am skeptical, I’m not sure what to think. I am confident about the steps the government is taking to avoid future outbreaks,” she said.

She echoes the sentiments of her

fellows in the educational arts and thinks that park-goers should exercising caution.

“They are keeping distances. Some folks are wearing masks,” she said. “I’m ready to get back to things, but … I am skeptical. How do I know it is over? When is it all over?”

At Jefferson Park on the Arkansas-side, park goers are also enjoying the out-ofdoors, most notably some exercising pets at the dog park area.

“I don’t feel threatened by the current situation,” said Felicia Murphy of New Boston and a currently furloughed manufacturing employee. “But taking this seriously should not mean being trapped in your house.”

Leah Tiner, who is there with Murphy as well as her 11-month-old son Carson, said, “I feel like this has gone too far. Sure, be cautious, but people are freaking out about this a bit too much.”

Staff photo by Junius Stone ■ A group of co-workers from Theron Jones Elementary School enjoy a cloudy, cool day at Spring Lake Park. With education moving forward in a modified form away from campuses, time for outdoors activities has increased. They and others are enjoying local parks, albeit at a safe distance from each other.