Some relief and a sense of normalcy is coming to Okotoks families this week.
Playgrounds are reopening today, after being closed by the Town since March 23. It’s great news for parents of little ones who have been chomping at the bit to stretch their legs and imaginations on neighbourhood play structures, especially on warm, sunny spring days.
But there are some rules to follow that may limit that play, like keeping physical distance of two metres between people from different households and having to disinfect equipment before and after use.
There’s skepticism in the community that this step will be taken by every parent or child who visits the park, and the naysayers are likely correct.
It’s doubtful many parents will follow their children around the park, wiping down every surface they may contact, and dutifully cleaning it down after they’ve passed.
There is also no way to enforce this rule, so it will fall to community members, parents and families to ensure they follow protocols as much as possible to prevent the potential spread of the virus. After all, children are more likely to touch their faces and less likely to be aware they’re doing it, and the potential for germ transmission is high at a playground.
That doesn’t mean it’s unsafe – if that was the case, the government wouldn’t have lifted restrictions on play structures.
But it does mean parents and guardians should be having pointed conversations with children to keep them informed and keeping an elevated level of vigilance to ensure health and safety standards are met.
Visiting the playground in the early days of relaunch may come with its own inherent set of risks, but if everyone does their level best to adhere to the guidelines a picnic in the park can bring some aspect of normal life back to children and adults alike.
