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Cooped-Up Children Lose Refuge as N.Y.C. Playgrounds Are Closed Cooped-Up Children Lose Refuge as N.Y.C. Playgrounds Are Closed
(5 days later)
All New York City’s playgrounds were ordered shut on Wednesday to slow the spread of the coronavirus — a move that led to scenes of crying children shaking locked gates, even as other parkgoers called the measure long overdue.All New York City’s playgrounds were ordered shut on Wednesday to slow the spread of the coronavirus — a move that led to scenes of crying children shaking locked gates, even as other parkgoers called the measure long overdue.
The announcement by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo followed calls from public-health experts and many City Council members to shut all playgrounds. But it added a new challenge for families weathering a lockdown that has closed schools.The announcement by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo followed calls from public-health experts and many City Council members to shut all playgrounds. But it added a new challenge for families weathering a lockdown that has closed schools.
“It’s like a nightmare — school’s closed, the parks are closed,” Sandy Friedman, 43, said. He had just arrived at Middletown Playground in South Williamsburg with two of his seven children only to find it padlocked; he had hoped they would play outdoors for the first time in 10 days.“It’s like a nightmare — school’s closed, the parks are closed,” Sandy Friedman, 43, said. He had just arrived at Middletown Playground in South Williamsburg with two of his seven children only to find it padlocked; he had hoped they would play outdoors for the first time in 10 days.
Mr. Cuomo said he had to act because despite multiple public warnings, too many people continued to crowd playgrounds and jostle on basketball courts instead of staying six feet apart, as experts recommend to cut down on virus transmission.Mr. Cuomo said he had to act because despite multiple public warnings, too many people continued to crowd playgrounds and jostle on basketball courts instead of staying six feet apart, as experts recommend to cut down on virus transmission.
“I warned people that if they didn’t stop the density and the games in the playgrounds — you can’t play basketball, you can’t come in contact with each other — we would close the playgrounds,” he said.“I warned people that if they didn’t stop the density and the games in the playgrounds — you can’t play basketball, you can’t come in contact with each other — we would close the playgrounds,” he said.
The day before the governor’s announcement, Mayor Bill de Blasio had ordered a handful of playgrounds closed.The day before the governor’s announcement, Mayor Bill de Blasio had ordered a handful of playgrounds closed.
The governor emphasized that city parks remained open even if playgrounds within them were closed. (Some basketball courts remain open; only those within locked playground fences are off limits.) Mr. Cuomo encouraged residents to “get some sun” as long as they kept six feet away from anyone other than their own household members.The governor emphasized that city parks remained open even if playgrounds within them were closed. (Some basketball courts remain open; only those within locked playground fences are off limits.) Mr. Cuomo encouraged residents to “get some sun” as long as they kept six feet away from anyone other than their own household members.
Still, that is easier said than done for many New Yorkers. Some parks — large, popular ones like Prospect and Central Parks, as well as smaller ones in dense neighborhoods — have been so busy, especially on sunny days, that it can feel difficult to stay safely away from others.Still, that is easier said than done for many New Yorkers. Some parks — large, popular ones like Prospect and Central Parks, as well as smaller ones in dense neighborhoods — have been so busy, especially on sunny days, that it can feel difficult to stay safely away from others.
There are many large open spaces in the city where there is enough space to keep one’s distance: the Rockaway beaches, Coney Island, the Red Hook waterfront, swathes of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and parts of Alley Pond Park in Queens.There are many large open spaces in the city where there is enough space to keep one’s distance: the Rockaway beaches, Coney Island, the Red Hook waterfront, swathes of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and parts of Alley Pond Park in Queens.
But most New Yorkers do not own cars, and many can only access those open spaces by bus or subway, which the city has urged residents not to use except to reach essential jobs or in emergencies.But most New Yorkers do not own cars, and many can only access those open spaces by bus or subway, which the city has urged residents not to use except to reach essential jobs or in emergencies.
The effect of the order on Wednesday was felt immediately as parks workers began chaining up playground gates and shooing children off swings.The effect of the order on Wednesday was felt immediately as parks workers began chaining up playground gates and shooing children off swings.
Middletown Playground, where Mr. Friedman and his children were faced with a locked gate, is a stand-alone playground with no adjacent park space. So he was left to suggest that his seven children could play inside, making believe they were outdoors.Middletown Playground, where Mr. Friedman and his children were faced with a locked gate, is a stand-alone playground with no adjacent park space. So he was left to suggest that his seven children could play inside, making believe they were outdoors.
As he spoke, other children from the neighborhood gripped the playground’s chain-link fence, as if trying to pull themselves through it. (One woman and three young children were in the playground, somehow having gained entry.)As he spoke, other children from the neighborhood gripped the playground’s chain-link fence, as if trying to pull themselves through it. (One woman and three young children were in the playground, somehow having gained entry.)
Some parents said that toddlers or children with special needs have a particular need for playgrounds; others said that with playgrounds closing, open park spaces would become even more dangerously crowded.Some parents said that toddlers or children with special needs have a particular need for playgrounds; others said that with playgrounds closing, open park spaces would become even more dangerously crowded.
Sammy Frisz was pushing his 1-year-old son at Mauro Park in Queens on Tuesday, when a parks worker enforcing Mr. de Blasio’s initial order asked them to leave.Sammy Frisz was pushing his 1-year-old son at Mauro Park in Queens on Tuesday, when a parks worker enforcing Mr. de Blasio’s initial order asked them to leave.
“Where else they can play?” Mr. Frisz asked, his palms held in the air.“Where else they can play?” Mr. Frisz asked, his palms held in the air.
Mr. Frisz, a city clerical worker, and his wife, a paralegal working from home, said that without a playground where their son could expend his abundant energy, his mother might not be able to keep her job.Mr. Frisz, a city clerical worker, and his wife, a paralegal working from home, said that without a playground where their son could expend his abundant energy, his mother might not be able to keep her job.
Updated July 23, 2020 Updated July 27, 2020
But Mr. Frisz also said the family was three days into a 14-day quarantine after being exposed to a family friend who died from Covid-19. So their presence in the park — and contact with the playground equipment — was just the type of public health risk the new order was seeking to mitigate.But Mr. Frisz also said the family was three days into a 14-day quarantine after being exposed to a family friend who died from Covid-19. So their presence in the park — and contact with the playground equipment — was just the type of public health risk the new order was seeking to mitigate.
Some inconsistency was on display nearby: While there were just two fathers pushing children on swings in the 200-foot-long playground as it was shut, just outside it there were eight men working out on stationary bars in an area about a quarter that size. They were allowed to remain there.Some inconsistency was on display nearby: While there were just two fathers pushing children on swings in the 200-foot-long playground as it was shut, just outside it there were eight men working out on stationary bars in an area about a quarter that size. They were allowed to remain there.
There was also some initial confusion about what constituted a playground. Residents reported Wednesday afternoon that all of Maria Hernandez Park, one of few green spaces in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, was being cordoned off, but it was later reopened.There was also some initial confusion about what constituted a playground. Residents reported Wednesday afternoon that all of Maria Hernandez Park, one of few green spaces in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, was being cordoned off, but it was later reopened.
Jane Meyer, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said later on Wednesday that “if comfort stations/basketball courts/other amenities are within a fence that will be locked because playground is within it, those amenities will be closed to the public as well.”Jane Meyer, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said later on Wednesday that “if comfort stations/basketball courts/other amenities are within a fence that will be locked because playground is within it, those amenities will be closed to the public as well.”
On Twitter, Mark Levine, a City Council member, called the decision to close all the playgrounds “a difficult — but necessary — move,” and added that the next step was to close or partially close more streets to allow more room for walking and running.On Twitter, Mark Levine, a City Council member, called the decision to close all the playgrounds “a difficult — but necessary — move,” and added that the next step was to close or partially close more streets to allow more room for walking and running.
Open-space and safe-streets advocates have criticized Mr. de Blasio for banning cars from only a few blocks of streets in each borough for pedestrian activities.Open-space and safe-streets advocates have criticized Mr. de Blasio for banning cars from only a few blocks of streets in each borough for pedestrian activities.
In the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, where a public boardwalk stretches for blocks along a windswept beach, parents were ready to cope with the playground closures.In the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, where a public boardwalk stretches for blocks along a windswept beach, parents were ready to cope with the playground closures.
Vitali Mourzakhanov arrived at a nearby playground with his 2-year-old daughter on a bicycle with training wheels. He was relieved to see it closed.Vitali Mourzakhanov arrived at a nearby playground with his 2-year-old daughter on a bicycle with training wheels. He was relieved to see it closed.
“I think it’s long overdue, people don’t sanitize the swings,” said Mr. Mourzakhanov, 43, a steamfitter. “It’s much easier to maintain social distancing.”“I think it’s long overdue, people don’t sanitize the swings,” said Mr. Mourzakhanov, 43, a steamfitter. “It’s much easier to maintain social distancing.”
The city’s decision, he said, made his job as a parent easier.The city’s decision, he said, made his job as a parent easier.
“Now, it’s locked, it’s closed,” he said. “So no crying.”“Now, it’s locked, it’s closed,” he said. “So no crying.”