Amid COVID-19, Shawnee Mission issuing trespass citations for crowds on school fields
Despite the risk of spreading coronavirus, large crowds continue to congregate and play team sports on Shawnee Mission school athletic fields, officials said. Now, the district is cracking down.
The district’s fields and stadiums remain open, even though schools are closed, officials said, to let the community exercise during the stay at home order. But officials said Wednesday that the district and local police departments have received numerous complaints about large groups playing organized sports and ignoring social distancing guidelines.
Beginning Thursday, district police were to begin issuing trespassing citations for anyone violating the rules — which include staying six feet away from others and gathering with no more than 10 people.
“This is a step that we would have preferred not to take, but given the ongoing lack of adherence to personal distancing guidelines, it has become necessary,” officials said in a news release.
Residents are at risk of being ticketed for violating the social distancing guidelines, which, along with metrowide stay at home orders, have been implemented to mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus in the community. School district officials emphasized the importance of following the rules, especially as the number of coronavirus cases rapidly grows.
“Groups of more than 10 people, individuals closer than six feet together, and sports where multiple individuals touch a common object (ball, bat, etc.) all present opportunities for transmission,” officials said. “These guidelines only work if ALL of us adhere to them, and unfortunately, that is not happening.”
For now, school district fields and stadiums will remain open, as long as the community adheres to the guidelines, officials said. The district prohibits “team sports including but not limited to: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, Frisbee.”
Officials said they will continue to monitor facilities and may revise the guidelines depending on public cooperation.
The Kansas City metro is under a stay at home order, which has closed many businesses and ordered residents to remain at home unless they are working at an essential business, getting food or seeking medical care or supplies.
All Kansas schools are closed for the remainder of the school year.
Johnson County parks and trails remain open, although, police departments have reported several residents violating social distancing guidelines and gathering in crowds. Playgrounds and athletic courts have been closed across Johnson County, in an effort to prevent the further spread of the virus.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 6:40 PM.
