Easter weekend is one of the most popular weekends for Phoenix parks every year as families use them for picnics, gatherings and egg hunts.

This year will be different.

The Phoenix City Council voted Thursday to prohibit parking and picnicking at all city parks April 11-12 in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

People can still access the green spaces and walking trails in parks, and bathrooms will remain open. Hiking trails will also remain open.

Everything but park ramadas will reopen on April 13. Ramadas will join a growing list of amenities like playgrounds and basketball courts that will remain closed until the local emergency spurred by COVID-19 passes.

The council implemented the new restrictions in an effort to encourage social distancing — a technique that medical professionals say is imperative to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Not far enough?

The council voted 7-2 to enact the Easter weekend restrictions, with council members Sal DiCiccio and Jim Waring voting "no."

Although council members Carlos Garcia and Laura Pastor and Vice Mayor Betty Guardado voted for the Easter restrictions, they said they did not believe they went far enough.

They wanted the parks closed entirely during Easter weekend, and all hiking trails and golf courses closed.

Gov. Doug Ducey, who issued a stay-at-home order earlier this week, has deemed outdoor recreation facilities "essential," meaning they should not be closed. Parks, trails and golf courses are included in that.

But some council members believe the city has the right and responsibility to close trails and golf courses because they cannot guarantee that social distancing can be maintained.

"I feel like it's irresponsible to not shut everything down," Garcia said.

Reach the reporter at jessica.boehm@gannett.com or 480-694-1823. Follow her on Twitter @jboehm_NEWS.

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