Santa Monica Playgrounds Will Reopen

Nicole Charky
Updated ·4 min read

SANTA MONICA, CA — Twelve Santa Monica playgrounds will reopen for kids and families on Friday, officials said Wednesday.

County health officials announced last week that playgrounds were cleared for safe reopening with local cities taking the lead.

"The city's Public Works teams have been hard at work evaluating equipment, replacing materials, pressure washing the grounds, and installing signage with guidance for a safe experience for visitors," officials said in a news release.

The following Santa Monica playgrounds will reopen Friday:

  • Airport Park Playground

  • Clover Park Playgrounds

  • Douglas Park Playground

  • Gandara Park Playground

  • Joslyn Park Playground

  • Marine Park Playground

  • Memorial Park Playground

  • North Beach Playground (slide closed)

  • Reed Park Playground

  • South Beach Universally Accessible Playground

  • Tongva Park Playground

  • Virginia Avenue Park Playground

Parks that do not have nearby restrooms or need additional maintenance will not open until it is safe to do so, with announcements to follow. These playgrounds are:

  • Annenberg Community Beach House Playground

  • Euclid Park Playground

  • Ishihara Park Playground

  • Ocean Park Beach Playground

  • Ozone Park Playground

“We are excited to welcome families back to playgrounds across the City," Interim City Manager Lane Dilg said. "We ask for everyone’s cooperation in following the guidelines and posted signage so that we can get outside and play safely."

Muscle Beach and park outdoor exercise equipment remain closed with reopening slated soon.

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will reopen playgrounds at Roosevelt, Franklin, and McKinley elementary schools this weekend through the Playground Partnership. Playgrounds at Edison, Grant, Roosevelt, and Los Amigos will be reopened by SMMUSD through the end of next week. The hours are 3 to 6 p.m.

City leaders urge people to continue following the health guidelines and posted signs at public play spaces for children. Here are the rules for protecting community health:

  • Do not visit the playground or park when feeling ill. Check your children for any flu-like symptoms before going to the park.

  • Wash or sanitize hands before and after using the playground. Use nearby restrooms to wash your hands frequently during your visit or bring your own sanitizing supplies.

  • Face masks over the mouth and nose are required for everyone two years of age or older with caregiver supervision at all times to ensure face mask use.

  • No eating or drinking in playground, to ensure face masks are worn at all times.

  • Do not use the playground when different households are unable to maintain a physical distance of six feet.

  • People standing outside of the playground should remain six feet away from areas used by other visitors.

  • Caregivers must monitor to keep adults and children from different households at least six feet apart.

  • Patrons and visitors are encouraged to use playgrounds at different times to avoid crowds.

  • Individuals with underlying medical conditions should avoid playground when others are present.

  • Limit visit to 30 minutes when others are waiting.

  • No adult team sports are allowed, nor are any competitions or spectator events.

  • No tobacco, drug use, alcohol consumption or vaping of any kind permitted in public parks.

  • All playgrounds are subject to closure due to any events of COVID-19 exposure, or lack of cooperation with health and safety guidelines.

  • All visitors must comply with all guidelines listed, and fully accept they are using the playground and surrounding area at their own risk.

Students in Santa Monica are participating in distance learning.

"Access to open space and playgrounds are more critical than ever as students participate in online learning," the city said.

Here are recent updates on accessing public playgrounds in the city:

  • Schoolyards at Edison, Franklin, Grant, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Will Rogers are open to the public on weekday afternoons and weekends through a partnership with SMMUSD.

  • City playing fields are open to permitted youth sports.

  • To meet the needs of local fitness businesses and support the health of community members, the City of Santa Monica has adapted its Commercial Fitness Trainer Permit Program to create more opportunities for safe outdoor fitness instruction in compliance with LA County Public Health protocols. For more information, please contact communityrecreation@smgov.net.

  • Tennis is allowed per the Tennis/Pickleball Reopening Protocols required by Department of Public Health. With tennis, to avoid contact, each player is required to bring their own bucket of tennis balls with initials on them so the player only serves/touches their own tennis balls. Besides serving, most contact with the tennis ball involves a racquet, lowering contact risk. Face coverings and physical distancing are required for doubles tennis.

Volleyball, basketball, and soccer games/scrimmages and adult skill activities are still not allowed.

"The City is closely monitoring LA County Department of Public Health forthcoming reopening guidelines for outdoor fitness equipment and will release details of any additional reopenings at that time," officials said.

To learn more about recreational activities reopening and specific health protocols, visit the website.

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This article originally appeared on the Santa Monica Patch