City Playgrounds, Sports Courts and Public Restrooms Close in Effort to Curb COVID-19

By Síle Moloney

Playgrounds like this one in Whalen Park are closed until further notice, along with park restrooms and sports courts, all in an effort to enforce social distancing.
Photo by Jonathan Custodio

New measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus were announced on April 2. NYC Parks’ playgrounds and the amenities contained within, such as basketball courts, handball courts and restrooms, are closed until further notice.

The citywide enforcement effort to encourage social distancing among park-goers remains in place, involving multiple City agencies, including NYPD, OSE, the Sheriff’s Office, DEP, DSNY, DOB, and FDNY. The City will continue to monitor conditions and determine if more severe restrictions are necessary.

As it stands, violators of social distancing requirements will be fined between $250-$500 per violation. The new penalties are needed to stop the spread of the virus. Click HERE for more details.

For all updates on park service changes and closures, please refer to the NYC Parks website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/about/health-and-safety-guide/coronavirus.

For more information and guidance about COVID-19, please refer to the DOHMH website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page

Your local health department is your community contact for COVID-19 concerns.

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