Enable Social Distancing at the Park

There's no doubt that COVID-19 is going to be with us for a while, and practicing social distancing and other health measures will be needed to reduce the impact of the pandemic. At the same time, we know that access to the great outdoors through our parks, trails and other venues is necessary. Parks can provide a safer place to socialize while maintaining distance from those not of our households. There are ways you can help encourage people to use parks, safely.

Q: What should we know about social distancing in parks, and how can we encourage everyone to be safe when they visit?

A: Social distancing requires that individuals maintain at least a 6-foot distance between themselves and other people who are from different households, both inside and in the outdoors. When visiting local parks, people should be encouraged to continue practicing social distancing.

One way you can encourage social distancing while also beautifying and improving your park space is by installing a series of small shelters. A small shelter provides families an outdoor respite where they can gather and engage in some fun and recreation. It also provides protection from the weather.

Premanufactured shelters make the process easy, with simple installation of a tremendous variety of options in a range of sizes to suit your needs.

When the pandemic recedes and we return to more normal operations, these smaller shelters will continue to serve you, providing the opportunity for rentals and offering a beautiful amenity in your park.

Q: What else should we consider?

A: It's important to encourage people to follow safe practices, so be sure you post notices about what's expected of your park visitors.

If your park is busy, you might want to consider establishing a reservation system, to ensure everyone gets a chance to enjoy your shelters. This can serve the added benefit of allowing you to stagger time slots so you can ensure proper cleaning and disinfecting is taking place, if that's something your agency is engaged in.