Over a dozen parks to reopen Friday
By Sam Catanzaro
Under updated Los Angeles County Department of Public Health directives that align with the State of California’s recent reversal on playground closures, the City of Santa Monica will reopen previously available playgrounds.
According to the City of Santa Monica, the following parks will open Friday, December 11:
- Airport Park Playground
- Annenberg Community Beach House Playground
- Clover Park Playgrounds
- Douglas Park Playground
- Euclid Park Playground
- Gandara Park Playground
- Ishihara Park Playground
- Marine Park Playground
- North Beach Playground
- Ozone Park Playground
- Reed Park Playground
- Tongva Park Playground
- Virginia Avenue Park Playground (slide closed)
Under playground rules, patrons must wash or sanitize hands before and after using the playground. Face masks over the mouth and nose are required for everyone two years of age or older. In addition, no eating or drinking will be permitted in playgrounds to ensure face masks are worn at all times, according to the City.
“Behavior of playground users will be monitored and if the district determines that people are not following the posted rules, the district may discontinue access,” the City said in a press release.
In addition, school play structures will reopen at Franklin, Roosevelt, McKinley, Rogers, Grant, Edison, and Muir / SMASH schools. Fields and open space at all Santa Monica elementary schools are open Monday – Friday, 3:30 – 5 p.m. and weekends and breaks through the Playground Partnership. Lincoln Middle School and John Adams Middle School fields are open for permit use only.
According to the City, LA County’s Department of Public Health has issued guidance that high contact programs and recreational amenities that require close contact less than six feet in distance should continue to be suspended at this time.
“This includes activities such as all non-professional team sports, group sporting events, organized intermural activities, pick-up basketball and volleyball, lawn bowling, and/or organized races. It also includes recreational amenities such as splash pads, outdoor fitness equipment, and outdoor BBQ grills in parks,” the City said.
