Playgrounds are closed under Illinois' shelter in place order, but some parents aren't enforcing that rule with their children.
Peoria Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill said her department continues to see kids on playgrounds, despite signs indicating they're not supposed to be.
Cahill said when parents let their kids use playgrounds, they're at risk of coming in contact with dangerous bacteria and viruses — as well as leaving behind germs that could infect other children.
"This is something that's very, very serious,” she said. “I understand the need for kids to be active and exercise those wiggles out — I get it. But there's lots of ways to do that without play equipment, where germs can be."
Cahill said with 42 playgrounds across Peoria, there's no way her department could implement an adequate cleaning routine to ensure kids' safety. She said they don't have the resources or desire to police the parks at all times.
Peoria's parks and trails remain open to the public. But if that's going to continue, Cahill said, residents need to take responsibility and follow social distancing guidelines.
Cahill said she encourages using Peoria's 30 parks and 52 miles of trails to de-stress and stay active during the stay at home period.
But she said there are some precautions people should take, like avoiding crowds and shared equipment.
“We also want people to really think about using the parks primarily for walking, biking and hiking,” she said. “Sports like basketball, football, or soccer really should be avoided for now."
Cahill said her department made the difficult decision to remove basketball rims from the parks, after seeing people continue to gather and play on the courts.
She said it's up to individuals to make sure they're staying at least six feet away from others and properly washing their hands before and after utilizing public spaces.
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