Play structures, athletic courts and fields closed to enforce social distancing

To reduce COVID-19 spread within our community at this critical time, I have closed all City of Berkeley play structures, athletic courts, dog parks and certain sports fields.

City of Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa B. Hernandez took drastic action last week in ordering residents to stay home to arrest the rapid spread of COVID-19. The intention of the order is to limit person to person contact as much as possible, while still allowing people to fulfill the daily needs of life.

Over the weekend, many people used parks and recreation facilities in ways that did not comply with shelter in place guidelines. Volleyball, basketball and group sports and picnics still create opportunities for COVID-19 spread even if you stay further apart than usual. If we do not slow the spread of this disease now, our health care system will become overwhelmed and may not be able to treat everyone who needs help.

To prevent this, we all need to take action now. I have closed all recreation areas other than open space in large parks. If needed, I will take additional actions. Each of us doing our part is essential:

• Stay home except for essential needs.
• Do not socialize in person with people you don’t live with.
• Stay 6 feet away from other people when you’re out.

To protect our vulnerable residents, we need everyone to follow both the letter, and the spirit of the stay at home order.

Our neighbors are depending on us.

Dee Williams-Ridley
Berkeley City Manager

Closed recreation facilities

City of Berkeley recreation facilities, including play structures, certain sports fields, basketball courts, pickleball courts, and volleyball courts are now closed.

Open space in large parks remains open for community members to enjoy alone or with members of their household. Do not gather in parks with people who don’t live with you.

Parks

These parks are closed entirely:

• 63rd Street Mini Park, 1615 63rd St.
• Bateman Mall Park, 3027 Colby St.
• Becky Temko Tot Park, 2424 Roosevelt St.
• Charlie Dohr Mini Park, 2208 Action St.
• Grizzly Peak Park, 50 Whitaker Ave.
• Haskell-Mabel Mini Park, 1255 Haskell St.
• Ohlone Dog Park, 1800 Hearst Ave.
• Price Street Mini Park, 1631 Prince St.
• Virginia McGee Totland, 1644 Virginia

Pools

• King Pool, 1700 Hopkins
• West Campus Pool, 2100 Browning

Recreation centers

• Adventure Playground, 160 University
• Frances Albrier Community Center, 2800 Park St.
• James Kenney Community Center, 1720 8th St.
• Live Oak Community Center, 1301 Shattuck
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Services Center/Young Adult Project (YAP), 1730 Oregon St.
• Shorebird Park nature center, 160 University
• Willard Clubhouse, 2720 Hillegass

Sports Fields

• Berkeley Skate Park, 711 Harrison
• Gabe Catalfo Fields, 1100 4th St.
• Tom Bates Regional Sports Complex, 400 Gilman St.