Are Outdoor Playgrounds Open In California

California reopened its all outdoor playgrounds in the end of September, 2020 after being blocked for six months because of the COVID-19. orange fencing and caution tape which were used to keep visitors away have been replaced. Children now can play swings and slides freely and happily.

Parents’ and the government’s opinion

In the beginning, the state appeared to have no plan to reopen these playgrounds, which had caused some parents’ dissatisfaction. Parents said it’s already tough for being quarantined with a kid in a house, and their kids have no place to play but staying at home. Especially for those families who don’t have a backyard, their kids have no place to do exercise and outdoor activities. They were also furious that outdoor playground were closed while many indoor places like bars and restaurants opened.

The state government closed outdoor playground with the goal of restricting gatherings and reducing the chance of spreading the virus. However, there is no evidence showing that virus can be spread by touching surfaces. The administration also said being outdoors is safer than being indoors.

The Importance of Outdoor Playgrounds for Children’s Growth

Health

Outdoor play can bring children fresh air which can make bacteria and virus spread out and be dissipated. It lets children be engaged in the nature and facilitates children’s physical health. Children who enjoy the outdoors are more likely to become adults who enjoy some outdoor endeavors like climbing, hiking and jogging. This is important because nowadays obesity is a growing problem in American children.

Learning

Outdoor playing enables children to learn about the world. They can learn about gravity on the slide. Why can they slide down but not up? Why can't the swing swing all the time? What does dirt taste like? What kind of bugs run out of the grass after it rains? How does the grass grow? The flowers around the playground come in a variety of colors.Why does the shadow of the playground equipment keep changing with the sun throughout the day? Children can learn a lot of knowledge that textbooks do not have in outdoor play. Outdoor playgrounds provide children with a real space, allowing children to observe with their eyes, experience with their hands, and satisfy their curiosity.

Developing themselves

Children can continue to push their limits in outdoor play. For example, when swinging, they can challenge the height of their swing, exercise their courage when climbing, and create their own game rules when playing games.Some constructive play can exercise children's imagination, and children also develop social skills, problem solving and coping skills in the process of playing with other children.Outdoor playgrounds are an essential part of children's childhood.

What did people do ?

After they found that public playgrounds in the state were closed indefinitely, state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez wrote a letter to the governor asking for guidance on reopening playgrounds, and then draft another letter signed by 23 state representatives. After weathering storms of criticism and popular protests, the government has finally decided to reopen outdoor playgrounds.People are happy that the state made this decision, which means things are coming back to a little bit normal. To prepare for this reopening, parks and recreation staff conducted field visits to all playgrounds to conduct capacity assessments and prepare for social distancing and line marking. City staff also made signs for the playgrounds with the new rules. Concord Mayor Tim McGallian said they checked all the equipment and made sure they were all cleaned.After the reopening, staff still monitor each location and implement safeguards compliant with public health requirements.

After California playgrounds reopen, some new rules are in place:

For visitors:

– Everyone aged two and older must wear a mask. Masks must not be removed during play.

–Different households should maintain 6 feet of distance. If it is so crowded that this social distancing can’t be kept, families should come back later.

– Every family should limit their visit to 30 minutes when there are other families playing at the playground

– No eating or drinking

– Wash hands before and after playing

-- if it is possible, wiping down the equipment before you play.

– Caregivers must supervise children to make sure they follow these rules

For playgrounds operators:

– increasing the frequency of cleaning frequently touched surfaces

– providing handwashing stations or sanitizer

-- posting the maximum number of children allowed at the entrance of each playground

-- posting the maximum occupancy of each play equipment to allow for "6 feet vertical and horizontal distancing"