Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation COVID-19 Coronavirus Update: March 25, 2020

Media: Fianna Dickson, 625.6297. Parks & Recreation: 311

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5:51 p.m.

An Update from City of Spokane & Recreation on COVID-19

March 25, 2020

We’d like to provide an update on actions City of Spokane Parks & Recreation is continuing to take to help slow the spread of COVID-19, in alignment with orders and guidance from Governor Inslee and the Spokane Regional Health District.

 

Governor’s Stay at Home Order

As you know, on March 23, Governor Inslee signed a Washington Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. View the details.

 

City park land is accessible with social distancing required. Amenities are closed for multi-person use.

Parks and open space are critical to our mental and physical health, especially during this uncertain and difficult time. City Parks, conservation areas, and trails are still accessible at this time, where appropriate social distancing can occur.

What’s Accessible	What’s Closed
Park open space / natural areas Trails / pathways Recreate only with your household unit Choose spaces that are close to home   These spaces are only accessible if practicing social distancing and following CDC guidelines.   Example: A parent/child kicking their soccer ball together or shooting hoops with their own ball is A-OK, but pick-up games are not.	Play structures Golf courses Multi-person (outside your household) use of amenities like: basketball courts tennis & pickle ball courts skate parks disc golf courses sports fields picnic shelters & similar facilities Gatherings of any kind – please recreate only with your household unit Some restrooms may be seasonally closed; we apologize for the inconvenience

 

Across nearly 90 properties, and with essential staff only, we’re doing our best to keep play structures closed off while maintaining garbage removal and preventing vandalism. Plastic fencing and caution tape are being torn down where we place it. We’re exploring additional closure methods with resources available.

Sheriff Knezovich and Spokane City Police are counting on everyone to self-regulate, and to encourage friends and neighbors to do the same. They are asking people not call 911 when they see a violation of the order. Spokane Police also issued this statement:

The Spokane Police Department’s primary role in supporting the Governor’s stay at home order is to help educate the community about how to comply. We are not being asked to detain, arrest or ticket those outside compliance. Our intent is to help Spokane residents by educating them on how to keep themselves safe, how to keep their families safe and how to keep the rest of the community safe.

If a call is absolutely needed, please call Crime Check at 456-2233.  We’re posting additional signs to help ensure everyone is aware of the rules.

 

Thank you for your role in supporting the health of our community.

Please not attend park and natural areas if you experience symptoms or have been in contact with someone experiencing symptoms; our staff will do the same.

• Visit the Spokane Regional Health District’s COVID-19 page for a full list of resources.
• Please follow the CDC’s guidelines on how to stop the spread of germs. 

 

Next steps

We love that parks can be a reprieve, and we hope to be able to keep them accessible. We appreciate the patience and understanding of citizens; we are adapting as a community and will continue to care for our beautiful and cherished properties with a limited staff, focused on core services of safety, asset protection, and sanitation.

We remain dedicated to following the recommendations and orders of the Spokane Regional Health District, Governor Inslee, and President Trump in collaboration with the City of Spokane leadership. As the situation and information evolves, we will continue to communicate changes. Together, we are #InlandStrong.  

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