[Note: Story updated with COVID-19 ‘How it Spreads’ information from the CDC website.]
The cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie issued reminders regarding which parts of their park systems are currently closed due to COVID-19.
Both cities said the closures are “to ensure resident safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.” North Bend said playground equipment cannot be properly sanitized to ensure children’s safety.
Playground equipment, skateparks and Si View/North Bend’s pump track bike park remain closed for social distancing, BUT parks, trails, and athletic fields are open.
North Bend and Snoqualmie encourage residents to use these facilities and ask everyone to follow social distancing guidelines from local and federal health organizations.
Snoqualmie was the first in the area to close some park areas due to COVID-19, happening in mid-March.
Latest CDC information on COVID-19 spread states: “It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about how this virus spreads.”
CDC says the main way COVID-19 spreads “is person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.”
Open in North Bend and Snoqualmie: Parks, Trails, Athletic Fields, Tennis Courts, and Sport Courts
- Parks (not playgrounds)
- Park restrooms (Snoqualmie)
- City-operated trails
- Tennis courts for singles; doubles if within the same household
- Sport courts for those in the same household
- Athletic fields open but not for organized sports or practices
- Disc Golf at South Fork Landing in North Bend is open for limited play with safety requirements posted on site
Closed in North Bend and Snoqualmie: Playgrounds, Skatepark and Bike Park Pump Track
- Playgrounds are closed to maintain social distancing
- The skateparks are closed to ensure social distancing
- The bump track bike park at Torguson Park (North Bend) closed
Both cities said they will re-evaluate opening these and other recreational facilities as the state enters Phase 3 of Governor Inslee’s Safe Start 4-Phase approach to re-opening Washington.
Currently King County is in phase 1. Governor Inslee said the earliest phase 2 could begin is June 1st, but warned that many counties still have too high COVID-19 infection rates enter phase 2 on that date. The governor stated the minimum time between each phase was three weeks.
Parks operated by King County are operating with similar restrictions and guidelines as North Bend and Snoqualmie.
Comments
“CDC says the main way COVID-19 spreads “is person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.”
This is inaccurate info. The 6ft distance comes from how we handled the 1918 flu. We really have no idea it’s primary spread route. It is possible to sneeze well beyond 6ft.