Boise mayor announces all city playgrounds will be closed to stop spread of pandemic
Some families have taken advantage of the freedom of no school and working from home to spend more time outside.
Parks are open. Trails are, too.
However, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has opted to close all park playgrounds to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), effective immediately and until further notice.
Officials are urging the public to stay off swings, slides and avoid using or touching any other park equipment.
Parks and Recreation maintenance team members will be taping off all playgrounds over the weekend, starting with our most popular parks, and posting signage at each site alerting residents to these closures, according to a press release sent by Boise Parks and Recreation.
Previously, the Boise Parks and Recreation Department advised parents to keep their children away from playgrounds which are one problematic area in our social distancing times.
“We are installing signs by Monday morning discouraging the use of all play equipment in all park locations,” Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway wrote in an email to the Idaho Statesman late Friday.
In the meantime, Holloway said, the city recommends “proper health and sanitary methods” to avoid the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
