Over the next few days, a number of park amenities in the City of Waco will be closed.
This news was announced by Mayor Kyle Deaver in a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon alongside McLennan County Judge Scott Felton and Dr. Jackson Griggs of the McLennan County Medical Team.
Among the topics discussed by Deaver was the city's difficulty in enforcing social distancing regulations in a number of areas, resulting in the necesity of their closure.
"We are not closing parks, but we are going to go ahead and close the follow amenities: all playground structures and excercise equipment in parks will be closed, basketball goals are going to be removed, the Sul-Ross Skate Park will be closed, tennis courts at various parks will be closed, horseshoe pits at Brazos Park East will be closed, the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course and disc golf courses will be closed, and water fountains in various parks will be closed. We certainly want citizens to get out and enjoy the parks, but these facilities have proven impossible for us to maintain adequate social distance at.
Deaver stressed that the closure of all public parks could soon follow if social distancing guidelines are not taken more seriously.
"It is the only thing that we can do to fight this disease. There is no known treatment for this disease, so all we can do is these orders, and I want you to understand that this is an affirmative step that you are taking to make our community better, so thank you for that."
Social distancing guidelines include continuing to wash your hands, sanitize surfaces, and maintain six feet of distance from other individuals.
With KWBU FM Waco, I'm Sam Cedar.