Mecklenburg closes all sports courts in county parks after social distancing concerns
MARCH 31 UPDATE: On Tuesday, Mecklenburg County Park and Rec said it is closing all sports courts — such as basketball, tennis and volleyball — in public parks. This was in response to activity over the weekend in the parks, where people played sports with shared equipment.
Now, those courts are closed, similar to how the county previously closed playgrounds.
Earlier, Mecklenburg County warned that tougher restrictions on public places like parks and greenways might be needed if people don’t practice better social distancing during the new coronavirus pandemic.
What does the county need from citizens to avoid additional restrictions, or the potential to see the parks closed?
“Stay at a minimum six feet away from anyone, whether you are using our parks, our greenways or our nature preserves,” said Lee Jones, Mecklenburg County’s director of park and recreation. “We want people to keep from congregating in groups larger than 10. And (stop participating in) any group activity.”
Both Mecklenburg County’s stay at home order that went into effect last week, and the statewide order that started Monday, allow for outdoor exercise but with restrictions on group size and activities.
Nice weather brought people out of their homes and caused some problematic behavior over the weekend.
“Yesterday, our parks were packed with people. Social distancing was not even an option,” county Health Director Gibbie Harris said Sunday.
Jones understands that people are eager to get outside., but said, “You have to respect yourself and be respectful of others. We’re dealing with an unknown phenomenon with this pandemic.”
What must stop to avoid adding to transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus?
“We want the public using our facilities to avoid participating in sports that use shared equipment,” Jones said. Based on what the county observed, Jones said people need to stop playing:
▪ Volleyball
▪ Basketball
▪ Kickball
▪ Pickleball
▪ Tennis
▪ Catch (footballs, Frisbees, baseballs, softballs, lacrosse are all out)
Beyond that, parents should avoid their children using any playground equipment because of the potential to pick up the virus from the surfaces.
“It’s pretty basic,” Jones said. “We’ve got to get the buy-in from the public to make the right personal choices during the time of this pandemic.”
Golf is OK, with cautions
Golf is allowed under the stay-at-home order because that sport lends itself to social distancing. Many Charlotte-area courses have taken precautions in recent weeks to safeguard customers and employees.
“On our golf courses, observe the rules,” Jones said. “That probably means one (golfer per) cart, and observe the social distancing.”
Jones urged the public to call in violations because the orders will be enforced.
“If you see someone not in compliance with the things we’re talking about, call 311. We will get the call, we will get out there, and we will enforce the order,” Jones said.
“We will tell folks to break up. if we need additional help (from law enforcement) in doing that, we will get it.”
On the water
At Lake Norman, 28-year-old former professional wake boarder Stephen Pierce said he’s seen some, but not all, local residents practicing social distancing. Pierce is now a wake board instructor on Lake Norman.
“You’re not technically in one specific area with everybody,” Pierce said. “There are people tying up boats at islands. Their tying boats together, to a friend or a stranger, and I think that wouldn’t technically be social distancing.”
Pierce said he didn’t see too many lake-goers moving boat to boat. And the number of boats being tied together was far less than what he would normally see at this time of year.
“I saw three or four boats at an island and people getting off and playing in the sand. It’s no different than people playing in a park,” Pierce said. “I don’t think anybody is being reckless like what you saw on the Florida beaches. I think people are aware.
“I think it’s just people wanting to get out on the water and enjoy the weather and the time off. It’s just that we have Lake Norman in our backyard.”
‘A little bit of a free-for-all’
Across town, on Lake Wylie, Pier 88 Yacht Club owners Rikki and Paul Herrmann have seen a change in boaters’ behavior.
The weekend of March 21, the Herrmanns said, most lake-goers weren’t too concerned with social distancing.
“It was a little bit of a free-for-all,” Rikki Herrmann said. “It was crazy and hectic, and people not heeding to (the guidance) and taking this as wisely as they should.
“This weekend, again with beautiful weather bringing people out, we saw an improvement on people’s behavior and being a little more cautious,” Rikki Herrmann said.
Rikki Herrmann said she saw fewer boats being tied together and people not going to boat to boat, or letting pets go boat to boat.
On Monday, the Herrmanns closed their restrooms, after trying to clean and disinfect after every use. They have also closed their small store, restaurant snack bar and outside dining areas to outside guests.
“If people are going to hop on their personal boat and go out and float and take a nice leisurely cruise,” she said “or go wake boarding and they’re in their own boat and socializing with direct family, these are things we feel are opportunities to get fresh air and are healthy.”
Her husband said the couple is advising lake-goers to not tie up boats or visit the sandbars or islands. She thinks those are places where it would be hard to social distance.
“We have not had anybody say, ‘Oh that’s BS,’ and ‘We’re doing it anyway,’ “ Paul Herrmann said. “We’ve not had anybody be defiant. I think everybody is kind of freaked out by this.
“I think maybe some of the younger generation might not be,” he said. “Not saying they might not be worried, but it’s almost that I’m bullet-proof attitude, much like you saw with the spring breakers in Florida.”
Paul Herrmann said he saw some boats last weekend that had at least a dozen young people on them. Some of the other boaters told them what they were doing was not smart, he said.
“As they come in, we can’t be the police,” he said. “But we’re doing everything we can to protect ourselves and educate. My wife and I don’t want to catch this thing.”
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 5:52 PM.
