Coronavirus California

Coronavirus impact: East Bay, South Bay regional parks announce additional closures ahead of Easter weekend

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Coronavirus: Bay Area parks announce additional closures ahead of Easter weekend

The East Bay Regional Park District and the City of San Jose announced widespread closures to parks, parking lots and staging areas to help prevent overcrowding on Easter weekend.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The views of Mission Peak normally give people a much needed escape from the busy Bay Area lifestyle.

But this weekend, may not be that time to take in the scenery due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"This Easter we really need folks to stay home and stay safe," East Bay Regional Parks Public Information Supervisor Dave Mason said. "So we have closed some parking areas and staging areas temporarily for Easter to help maintain safety. It's all about the safety of the public and of the employees."

The East Bay Regional Parks District has already announced closures to many parking lots and staging areas but are expanding that ahead of this busy weekend.

In total, 10 regional parks will see new lot and staging closures on April 11 and 12.

Black Diamond Mines - All Parking Lots CLOSED

Briones - Alhambra Staging Area CLOSED

Coyote Hills - All Parking Lots CLOSED

Garin - All Parking Lots CLOSED

Kennedy Grove - All Parking Lots CLOSED

Lake Chabot - Main Parking Lot CLOSED

MLK Jr. - Doolittle South and Arrowhead Staging Areas CLOSED

Miller Knox - All Parking Lots CLOSED

Mission Peak - Stanford Avenue Staging Area CLOSED (Fenced with no trail access, closed by request of City of Fremont)

Temescal - All Parking Lots CLOSED

The district is discouraging the public to visit the parks, but the trails will remain open and accessible if you walk or bike to the locations.

Learn more information on closures and cancellations from the East Bay Regional Park District here.

But it's not just in the East Bay.

In the South Bay, changes are coming as well, specifically at the San Jose Regional Parks that will be closed to keep people away on Easter weekend.

"We're just trying to do our part, we're trying to really prevent people from gathering in groups," City of San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Executive Public Information Officer Charlotte Graham said. "We know that these regional parks are areas that can get crowded. We have observed and received reports regarding non-compliance with county orders at certain parks and people gathering. So we just want to be really proactive and make sure that people are following those county orders."

The City of San Jose will do this by closing the following 9 regional parks to the public entirely.

Almaden Lake Park

Alum Rock Park

Edenvale Garden Park

Emma Prusch Farm Park

Guadalupe Oak Grove

Kelley Park

Lake Cunningham Park

Municipal Rose Garden

Overfelt Gardens Park

Unlike in the East Bay, this means no access by car or by foot throughout the entirety of the Easter weekend.

Neighborhood parks in San Jose will remain open with public space restrictions, such as closed dog parks and sports fields.

But temporary measures could turn to indefinite if social distancing doesn't continue.

"What I can say is that, if group gatherings, overcrowding or any kind of non-compliance with the county orders is seen at parks, it can definitely lead to the closure of other parks," Graham said.

These closures come after parks in the North Bay announced changes to their locations as well.

Learn more information on closures and cancellations from the City of San Jose here.

Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here

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