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As Weather Warms Up, New Yorkers Rush to Parks Balmy Weekend Presents a Challenge: New Yorkers Rushing to Parks
(32 minutes later)
On the first day of May, New Yorkers were greeted with sunny skies and the warmest weekend so far this spring. On the second day of May, New Yorkers were greeted with sunny skies and the warmest weekend so far this spring. People got up from their couch, put on their shoes and their masks, and left their cramped houses and apartments for the nearest park — desperate for fresh air and a little exercise.
As temperatures climbed into the 70s, people across the city got up from their couch, put on their shoes and their masks, and left their cramped houses and apartments for the nearest park — desperate for fresh air and a little exercise. After weeks spent almost entirely indoors to avoid the coronavirus, they seemed to be drawn outside as much by the balmy weather as by their hopes that New York City was slowly, and cautiously, starting to emerge from the crisis that has kept it locked down since mid-March.
After weeks spent almost entirely indoors to avoid the coronavirus, New Yorkers seemed to be drawn outside as much by the warm weather as by their hopes that the city was slowly, and cautiously, starting to emerge from the crisis that has kept it locked down since mid-March. But in parks across the city, the police and other law enforcement officers were on hand, handing out masks, breaking up soccer games and reminding people to spread out.
It was much the same across the Hudson River, where New Jersey residents began returning to the state and county parks that reopened after having been closed for nearly a month to discourage overcrowding.It was much the same across the Hudson River, where New Jersey residents began returning to the state and county parks that reopened after having been closed for nearly a month to discourage overcrowding.
But the announcement from Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey on Friday that parks and golf courses would reopen came with a warning: Restrictions could be reimposed if people did not practice social distancing or wear face coverings.But the announcement from Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey on Friday that parks and golf courses would reopen came with a warning: Restrictions could be reimposed if people did not practice social distancing or wear face coverings.
Hours into the reopening, most visitors to Liberty State Park in Jersey City seemed to be following the rules, giving wide berths to others. Many were wearing masks or bandannas.
In New York City, the epicenter of the crisis, parks have remained open, with the exception of playgrounds. Still, some officials this week had feared that the sunny weekend — coming after a cooler, rainy week — would tempt people to crowd parks, risking a reversal of the hard-fought efforts to quell the outbreak.In New York City, the epicenter of the crisis, parks have remained open, with the exception of playgrounds. Still, some officials this week had feared that the sunny weekend — coming after a cooler, rainy week — would tempt people to crowd parks, risking a reversal of the hard-fought efforts to quell the outbreak.
“The nice weather is very much a threat to us,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a radio interview on Friday.“The nice weather is very much a threat to us,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a radio interview on Friday.
With new coronavirus cases in New York State continuing to decline from their peak in early April, talk has slowly turned to ways of easing the lockdown. Still, city health officials are continuing to urge New Yorkers to keep their outings to a minimum.With new coronavirus cases in New York State continuing to decline from their peak in early April, talk has slowly turned to ways of easing the lockdown. Still, city health officials are continuing to urge New Yorkers to keep their outings to a minimum.
“The bottom line is, we cannot let up now,” Mr. de Blasio said at a Friday news conference. He warned against sports and other group activities over the weekend, and New York Police Department said it would deploy more than 1,000 officers across the city to ensure that people were properly social distancing.“The bottom line is, we cannot let up now,” Mr. de Blasio said at a Friday news conference. He warned against sports and other group activities over the weekend, and New York Police Department said it would deploy more than 1,000 officers across the city to ensure that people were properly social distancing.
New York State is still under an executive order from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo restricting any “nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason” until at least May 15. The order recommends that residents should limit outdoor activities to non-contact recreation and maintain social distancing.New York State is still under an executive order from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo restricting any “nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason” until at least May 15. The order recommends that residents should limit outdoor activities to non-contact recreation and maintain social distancing.
At Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Cristian Guzman, 23, and his friends were about to start playing soccer when two deputies with the New York City Sheriff’s Office pulled up.
The deputies explained that the group was gathered too closely together. Mr. Guzman and his teammates gave up on the idea of playing. In Spanish, he said it made him sad. It would have been his first game in six weeks. But he had to respect the rules, he said.
Mr. Guzman worked at a restaurant that has closed. Around him in the park, other people sunbathed, walked dogs, flew kites, rode bikes and skateboards, and played Ping-Pong and roller hockey.
The deputies returned to their squad car and drove on, stopping mainly to hand out masks to park-goers.
To give New Yorkers more space to play and walk, the city on Saturday closed off seven miles of streets inside and near city parks vehicle traffic — the first installment of a planned 40 miles of closings.To give New Yorkers more space to play and walk, the city on Saturday closed off seven miles of streets inside and near city parks vehicle traffic — the first installment of a planned 40 miles of closings.
The street closures were originally scheduled for Monday, but Mr. de Blasio said on Twitter late Friday that city agencies and the Police Department would start the program early.The street closures were originally scheduled for Monday, but Mr. de Blasio said on Twitter late Friday that city agencies and the Police Department would start the program early.
Most of the city’s most storefronts remain shuttered, with nonessential businesses still required to remain closed in New York, and public transit has become something to avoid if possible.Most of the city’s most storefronts remain shuttered, with nonessential businesses still required to remain closed in New York, and public transit has become something to avoid if possible.
But in some ways, Saturday served up a preview of what the city can expect as New Yorkers eye a return to public spaces, even as precautions remain in place to slow further spread of the virus.But in some ways, Saturday served up a preview of what the city can expect as New Yorkers eye a return to public spaces, even as precautions remain in place to slow further spread of the virus.
“I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that’s great,” Mr. Cuomo said at a news briefing on Saturday in Queens. “Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask.”“I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that’s great,” Mr. Cuomo said at a news briefing on Saturday in Queens. “Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask.”
In Central Park, Joe Corcoran, 35, was out for a run Saturday morning and acknowledged that the park seemed crammed — small clusters of people were spread out in Sheep Meadow’s 15 acres of grass. He and his fellow runners were practicing social distancing, he said.In Central Park, Joe Corcoran, 35, was out for a run Saturday morning and acknowledged that the park seemed crammed — small clusters of people were spread out in Sheep Meadow’s 15 acres of grass. He and his fellow runners were practicing social distancing, he said.
“I think people are trying to do their best to stay physically healthy, but also respect people’s boundaries,” said Mr. Corcoran, who lives on the Upper East Side.“I think people are trying to do their best to stay physically healthy, but also respect people’s boundaries,” said Mr. Corcoran, who lives on the Upper East Side.
In New Jersey, which after New York has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, people were also eager to take advantage of running paths, open space and the water. Just before 6 a.m., Ralph Vazquez, 49, arrived at the southern entrance to Liberty State Park in Jersey City. He had his 23½-foot Wellcraft boat in tow, with two friends seated inside the boat.In New Jersey, which after New York has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, people were also eager to take advantage of running paths, open space and the water. Just before 6 a.m., Ralph Vazquez, 49, arrived at the southern entrance to Liberty State Park in Jersey City. He had his 23½-foot Wellcraft boat in tow, with two friends seated inside the boat.
“I’m going to catch some fish for all the days I wasn’t out here,” Mr. Vasquez said. “I’m going to catch stripers and blues. Whatever hits the pole.”“I’m going to catch some fish for all the days I wasn’t out here,” Mr. Vasquez said. “I’m going to catch stripers and blues. Whatever hits the pole.”
Minutes later, two park officers removed two lines of orange cones, pushed back a gate and took down an electric sign that flashed “state park closed.”Minutes later, two park officers removed two lines of orange cones, pushed back a gate and took down an electric sign that flashed “state park closed.”
Mr. Vazquez’s excitement grew as he waited to enter the lot for the boat launch. “Let me pass!” he said. “Come on! I’m ecstatic to be back!”Mr. Vazquez’s excitement grew as he waited to enter the lot for the boat launch. “Let me pass!” he said. “Come on! I’m ecstatic to be back!”
Kevin Armstrong, Jo Corona and Andrea Salcedo contributed reporting. Nate Schweber, Kevin Armstrong, Jo Corona and Andrea Salcedo contributed reporting.