After saying over the weekend that public parks would stay open to give citizens a place to escape cabin fever due to Coronavirus, Cobb County government is closing them down.
The closures—which include all outdoor and indoor parks and recreational facilities—are effective immediately and until further notice. They’re being done in the “interest of public health and to encourage social distancing,” according to a message issued Monday afternoon.
Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt told East Cobb News that park crews were starting the process Monday afternoon, and that “it may take the rest of today and much of tomorrow to post signage” and take other measures to keep the parks closed.
A number of nearby jurisdictions have been closing parks in recent days, including Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Kennesaw.
The National Park Service also has closed the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which straddles the river in East Cobb and Sandy Springs.
On Saturday, East Cobb Park (photo above) was as busy as a typical early spring weekend day, with people walking (many with dogs), playing in open areas and on playgrounds.
On Friday, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce explained keeping parks open by saying that citizens “want to go somewhere, at least for a little while, where they can have some comfort.”
There was a posting to that effect on Cobb government’s Facebook page over the weekend, although it engendered some critical comments about the wisdom of keeping parks open. That posting has been removed.
The number of confirmed Coronavirus in Cobb rose to 79 on Monday, up from 55 over the weekend, and 772 cases have been confirmed in Georgia. Thus far, 25 people in Georgia have died from the virus, including one at Kennestone Hospital.
Cobb commissioners will meet tomorrow morning in a special called meeting over the Coronavirus situation, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will be providing a briefing at 5 p.m. Monday, and it can be seen live on the governor’s Facebook page or at the Georgia Public Broadcasting site.
Related Stories
- Cobb commissioners to hold Coronavirus meeting Tuesday
- Closed East Cobb restaurants raise funds for workers
- State Senator from East Cobb tests positive for Coronavirus
- Boyce: ‘No intention’ to close Cobb businesses
- Kemp has no plans to shut businesses, impose curfew/quarantine
- East Cobb News Coronavirus Resource Page
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