Barricades placed at Swope and Blue Valley parks in effort to limit large gatherings
In an effort to deter large gatherings and limit the spread of the new coronavirus at Kansas City parks, workers spent Friday placing road barricades at the entrances of Blue Valley and Swope parks.
Both parks will remain open for residents to walk, jog and bike but the barriers were put in place to restrict vehicle traffic into the recreational areas, said parks superintendent Kevin Evans.
“We are closing the roads here because we are getting too much social gathering,” Evans said Friday. “We’ll try to minimize that but at the same time keep the park open.”
The move is designed to alleviate crowding at parks, where city officials have had to take steps such as cordoning off playgrounds and removing basketball and tennis nets to ensure residents distance themselves from one another. The city has also closed its dog parks.
“On nice days, we will have well over 100 people gathering in the same location,” he said. “We definitely want to control that.”
Kansas City police have said in an effort to encourage public safety, patrol officers have asked large gatherings at shelter houses to break up.
On Thursday, Mayor Quinton Lucas extended the city’s stay at home orders to May 15. Under the order, residents can still leave their homes for outdoor exercise so long as they adhere to social distancing, remaining six feet apart.
Earlier this month, Lucas proposed shutting down several city streets to car traffic to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists during the coronavirus pandemic.
The road closures on Friday were not related to that initiative proposed by Lucas.
At Swope Park, crews closed the entrances at Starlight Drive, Zoo Drive and 67th Street and Elmwood Avenue. Motorists will be allowed to park along the circle drive but not farther into the park.
At Blue Valley Park, the vehicle entrance at 23rd Street and Topping Avenue has been closed.
Evans said crews have already placed barricades at Loose Park, south of the Country Club Plaza on Wornall Road.
Park rangers will patrol the parks to ensure visitors adhere to the restrictions, he said.
“The spread of COVID is going in alarming numbers and we just want to do our part and control it.” Evans said. “We still encourage people to get out, walk and get your daily exercise.”
