How to Enjoy Detroit Parks Safely During COVID-19

The “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order imposed in early March and extended recently has left many Detroiters feeling anxious to get outdoors.

“We are really encouraging people to get out and walk, get out and bike, enjoy the parks as much as possible. But we’re also reminding people to be careful.” — Brad Dick, City of Detroit

As the summer weather rolls in, many are flocking to public parks for some much-needed recreational time. How can city residents take advantage of public spaces while maintaining sanctioned social distancing protocols as park attendance increases?

Listen: The importance of public space during a pandemic.

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Brad Dick, Director of General Services Department for the City of Detroit, says the city is trying to get more creative in its recreational programming in response to the ongoing public health crisis.

“Our biggest control is just through constant messages about the dangers of COVID.” — Brad Dick, City of Detroit

“We are really encouraging people to get out and walk, get out and bike, enjoy the parks as much as possible. But we’re also reminding people to be careful,” Dick says.

Clear dissemination of critical information, he says, will be key in the city’s enforcement of social distancing in public spaces. “Our biggest control is just through constant messages about the dangers of COVID,” says Dick on keeping public parks safe.

Meagan Elliott, Chief Parks Planner for the city of Detroit, says that the city is taking a two- pronged approach in developing programming for this summer.

She says not only will she be following the guidance of medical professionals, but she also hopes to integrate the advice of mental health experts into recreational programming. Elliott says her hope is that clear messaging will help in facilitating safety in public parks and will lend to the success of planned recreational programming for this summer.

“I think that ultimately, the communication is a really critical component. Because even with [the physical barriers and signs in parks], we can’t make as big of an impact with the physical space,” says Elliott.