Closing All Open Spaces Goes Too Far

A guest editorial submission to the Press Democrat in Sonoma County, Calif., arguing against the closure of public parks and schools, at the outset of the COVID-19 viral outbreak.

 

By Eric Butterfield

April 17, 2020

 

On Friday, April 10, I received a text message saying my local school campuses are closed to the public, as part of the county parks closure. Needless to say, this is all being done to enforce social distancing and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. I frequently use my local schools for outdoor activity and, based on what I've seen, find this expansive policy absurd.

 

Sonoma County Public Affairs has argued that crowding at beaches and parks led to the closures. The public was not taking social distancing guidelines seriously. Since then, I think I've seen the public taking this pandemic a lot more seriously. A month is long time to shelter in place.

 

The county has closed all open spaces to prevent the spread of the virus. However, to combat crowded conditions, at Doran Beach for example, it's also entirely possible that rangers could limit access and in other ways encourage, enable and enforce social distancing.

 

Where is the logic for closing all school campuses to the public? On several trips to multiple local Rincon Valley schools in east Santa Rosa, I've never seen more than 10 people. Often, it's only half that. There's never been any threat of getting within 10 feet of anyone else—much less 50. There are acres of unused field just sitting there. But, the lawmakers have decided we should all go stir-crazy at home, rather than entrust us to practice social distancing in the wide-open spaces our tax dollars funded.

 

If we can't go to schools, we are forced to walk in our neighborhoods. Does that not increase risk of exposure to the virus? Apparently, exercising outside is not a critical function and may technically violate the shelter-in-place ordinance. It is not deemed essential by county bureaucrats. But it is absolutely essential, both physically and mentally, for the majority of able-bodied Sonoma County residents—particularly those of us with small, high-energy children. But the county doesn't trust me to go to a wide-open field and exercise, and keep my distance from other people.

 

During this stressful time, closing all open space is unimaginative and short-sighted. We talk a lot these days about lack of trust in government. I think we also need to talk about government's lack of trust in us, its citizenry. Clearly, there is enough furloughed personnel who could pitch in to regulate access to parks and schools to prevent overcrowding. Of all places, schools are easy to manage. They're designed like prisons, after all, which is why many of the same architectural firms design both. With only one or two entrances to manage, can't a school yard be made available to the public on some limited basis?

 

I've seen more people walking in my neighborhood and on a creekside trail than ever before. Wouldn't the risk of contracting the virus be lower if all those people could choose to roam elsewhere? Closing school play structures, of course, was a wise decision. But responsible adults should be allowed to stroll in an open, empty field, if they choose, and take their housebound children—who are forbidden from using play structures. Forbidding enjoyment of the outdoors at schools and parks is beyond illogical—it's comically cruel.

 

We can starve this virus by practicing smart social distancing. But insisting we do no exercise outdoors is not smart. This lockdown will come with physical and mental health consequences, even for people who don't get sick. Taking away our open spaces just makes it worse.

 

To our south, in San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is open to the public. We could do a little more to trust our citizens here in beautiful Sonoma County.