SF Rec and Park reminds families: 'Our playgrounds are closed'

San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department wants to remind families: "Our playgrounds are closed due to the COVID-19 emergency." San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department wants to remind families: "Our playgrounds are closed due to the COVID-19 emergency." Photo: Courtesy SF Rec And Park Photo: Courtesy SF Rec And Park Image 1 of / 49 Caption Close SF Rec and Park reminds families: 'Our playgrounds are closed' 1 / 49 Back to Gallery

San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department wants to remind families: "Our playgrounds are closed due to the COVID-19 emergency."

With the entire state of California under a shelter-in-place order to prevent spread of the virus, families are allowed to step outside for a breath of fresh air and can go for walks and runs close to their homes. But health officials say kids shouldn't be in playgrounds or on playground equipment.

"We've locked the playgrounds in locations where that's possible, but none should be used at this time," Rec and Park shared on Twitter. "It is up to us to stop the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing."

On March 13, Rec and Park shut down all its recreation sites around the city. Thirty-seven of those sites have been converted into childcare facilities for kindergarten through fifth-grade children of health care, public health and disaster response workers.

In addition, the agency suspended regular recreation programming. Parks, trails and open spaces remain open, and residents are encouraged to use the parks "but not to congregate."

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Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.