FLENER SHOWS US WHAT HE SAW, TODAY. MATT: AT PENGUIN PARK, SIGNS SAY PLAY IT SAFE. BUT IT ONLY HELPS, IF PEOPLE READ THEM. >> I DIDN’T REALIZE THE SIGNS WERE OUT, HONESTLY. MATT: SEVERAL FAMILIES STILL PLAYED ON ONE OF KANSAS CITY’S MOST POPULAR PLAYGROUNDS ONE, EVEN HAVING A MEAL ON THE PARK BENCH. EVEN AFTER THE CITY SHUT DOWN PLAYGROUNDS AND COURTS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS. >> DIDN’T KNOW IT AT ALL. TOUGH BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE LIKE, WE LIVE IN AN APARTMENT SO WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. AND WE ATCH THEM OUT PLAYING IN THE FRONT YARD, BUT THERE’S NOT MUCH ROOM TO RUN. >> I’VE RAISED CHILDREN, I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN, AND WE’RE KEEPING THEM AWAY FROM THE PLAYGROUNDS. WE’RE JUST COMING UP WITH OTHER WAYS TO KEEP THEM ENTERTAINED. MATT: CITY PARKS WORKERS SPENT THURSDAY PUTTING THESE SIGNS AT THE 112 PLAYGROUNDS AROUND TOWN. >> I WAS SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW ONCE THE WEATHER KIND OF TURNED NICE YESTERDAY AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN’T SEEM TO BE COMPLYING WITH THE STAY AT HOME ORDER. MATT: THEIR HOPE? PEOPLE SEE THE MESSAGE TO STAY OFF EQUIPMENT AND COURTS ACROSS THE CITY. >> IT IS UNREAL. IT IS VERY UNREAL. >> THEY DON’T WANT TO GO HOME. THEY WANT TO PLAY. MATT: AGAIN, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACES ARE OK BUT MAKE
KC area playgrounds still busy during stay-at-home order
Public officials warn parents, kids to stay away
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Updated: 5:18 PM CDT Mar 26, 2020
If you’re planning a trip to the public playground over the next few weeks in the Kansas City metro area, public officials have a warning for you: Stay away.While most cities and counties have kept parks open on both sides of the state line, Johnson County, Independence, Liberty and Kansas City and several other municipalities have closed playgrounds and courts to reduce surface contact during the COVID-19 pandemic.It’s a message KMBC 9 Investigates found may need wider attention, since several families filled playgrounds late Wednesday and Thursday, inside Kansas City’s city limits.Parks employees spent Thursday installing signs at the city’s 112 playgrounds telling people playgrounds and courts are closed to comply with the city’s stay-at-home order.”I was surprised at the number of people, you know, once the weather kind of turned nice yesterday, at the number of people that didn’t seem to be complying with the stay-at-home order,” Jeff Hurley Kansas City Park Ranger supervisor.Hurley said his park rangers will educate people in the coming days about the order, instead of resorting to immediate enforcement.”I’ve raised children. I have grandchildren, and we’re keeping them away from the playgrounds,” he said. “We’re just coming up with other ways to keep them entertained.”Multiple signs warned people about the parks closure at Penguin Park in Kansas City’s Northland.However, Kari Wilson said she did not see them Thursday afternoon.”I didn’t realize the signs were out, honestly,” she said. After KMBC 9 News informed her of the city’s order, she and her family left the park.”It’s unreal,” Wilson said. “It’s very unreal.”
If you’re planning a trip to the public playground over the next few weeks in the Kansas City metro area, public officials have a warning for you: Stay away.
While most cities and counties have kept parks open on both sides of the state line, Johnson County, Independence, Liberty and Kansas City and several other municipalities have closed playgrounds and courts to reduce surface contact during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s a message KMBC 9 Investigates found may need wider attention, since several families filled playgrounds late Wednesday and Thursday, inside Kansas City’s city limits.
Parks employees spent Thursday installing signs at the city’s 112 playgrounds telling people playgrounds and courts are closed to comply with the city’s stay-at-home order.
“I was surprised at the number of people, you know, once the weather kind of turned nice yesterday, at the number of people that didn’t seem to be complying with the stay-at-home order,” Jeff Hurley Kansas City Park Ranger supervisor.
Hurley said his park rangers will educate people in the coming days about the order, instead of resorting to immediate enforcement.
“I’ve raised children. I have grandchildren, and we’re keeping them away from the playgrounds,” he said. “We’re just coming up with other ways to keep them entertained.”
Multiple signs warned people about the parks closure at Penguin Park in Kansas City’s Northland.
However, Kari Wilson said she did not see them Thursday afternoon.
“I didn’t realize the signs were out, honestly,” she said.
After KMBC 9 News informed her of the city’s order, she and her family left the park.
“It’s unreal,” Wilson said. “It’s very unreal.”
