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Last week’s rising springtime temperatures drove flocks of people to local city parks, but by Monday, the mayor of Memphis had seen enough.
“Unfortunately, some people are not taking this seriously,” said Mayor Jim Strickland, chiding a visible lack of social distancing practices in public spaces. “For the health of our city, they must start now.”
One week after the city's original ‘Safer-at-Home’ order went into effect—restricting residents to“essential’outings,” which include outdoor exercise—the mayor is adding stronger measures to govern city parks.
As of Tuesday morning, he’s cutting off certain access points to the popular destinations. Not exactly shutting them down, but making them harder to get to, at least with a car.
Riverside Drive, which hugs downtown’s Tom Lee Park, will be closed between Union Ave. and Georgia Ave. indefinitely. Other roads will be closed as long as fire-safety regulations permit, Strickland promised.
“No groups of people will be allowed to congregate in our parks,” he said. “Medical experts recommend outdoor activities, but only with people in your household, and you must stay at least six-feet away from everyone else.”
The mayor called big, intermingling crowds in public spaces “reckless, irresponsible and selfish.”
City workers will be stationed at area parks, keeping a watchful eye on visitors' behavior.
The city closed athletic fields, basketball courts and dog parks on Friday.
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