Remember that thing about MoCo Parks/Playgrounds Reopening?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

One thing I'll say in the Parks Department's defense is that this is likely the fault of Dr Gayles and the public health team. I suspect the Parks Department asked Dr. Gayles what they're supposed to do and never got anything meaningful back.

The public health guidance coming out at a county level is sort of a mess. It's fine as long as you don't look at it that closely, but once you really start reading it you'll find various inconsistencies and absurd requirements. e.g., Do you really think you can get most 2 year olds to wear masks? They're technically required in daycares now, even though the state acknowledges a lot of kids under 5 shouldn't wear them).

Most of the rest of MD has had playgrounds open since phase 1a, more than a month ago. We went to a playground in Washington County, and they were open on Saturday morning (order was lifted Friday 5pm). They had signs about social distancing. How hard is it to cut off the caution tape and post up the signs?

The Parks department knew that playgrounds would eventually re-open. Didn't they plan ahead for this eventuality?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was planning to just cut the fencing at 5:01 today and date them to arrest me (I am rich and white, so they wouldn’t). But it is raining so I will wait until tomorrow morning.

I don’t need guidance to know that playgrounds are low risk activity and that I can make that choice for my family. I wear masks in stores and would never go to a bar/restaurant indoors but let’s use some common sense.

Another crappy member of the community who thinks what they want should be what the entire community goes by.

Honest question: Why don't people like you run for office if you think you should be in charge?

I want to follow Hogan and Elrich and I am the problem. Oooookay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:about our parks and facilities:

Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Just called and literally cried on the phone. Others should do it too. This is bullshit.

I understand your wish to enjoy park land, but... come on. No need to pull the crying stunt with this. Have a little dignity.

And maturity. I can see rolling her eyes and complaining that the parks aren't open yet, but all this tantruming is a bit much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

One thing I'll say in the Parks Department's defense is that this is likely the fault of Dr Gayles and the public health team. I suspect the Parks Department asked Dr. Gayles what they're supposed to do and never got anything meaningful back.

The public health guidance coming out at a county level is sort of a mess. It's fine as long as you don't look at it that closely, but once you really start reading it you'll find various inconsistencies and absurd requirements. e.g., Do you really think you can get most 2 year olds to wear masks? They're technically required in daycares now, even though the state acknowledges a lot of kids under 5 shouldn't wear them).

Most of the rest of MD has had playgrounds open since phase 1a, more than a month ago. We went to a playground in Washington County, and they were open on Saturday morning (order was lifted Friday 5pm). They had signs about social distancing. How hard is it to cut off the caution tape and post up the signs?

The Parks department knew that playgrounds would eventually re-open. Didn't they plan ahead for this eventuality?

OP again.

I totally agree. I just think the county Health Department screwed over the Parks Department with how they wrote the executive order. It's not remotely possible for the Parks Department to meet the requirements in paragraph 3 of the executive order. Presumably the Health Department never expected them to, otherwise why even include parks/playgrounds as opening in the Executive Order. But I bet Gayles won't give them an email that says so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:about our parks and facilities:

Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Just called and literally cried on the phone. Others should do it too. This is bullshit.

I understand your wish to enjoy park land, but... come on. No need to pull the crying stunt with this. Have a little dignity.

Not a stunt. Actually that sad. Weird you think it was a stunt.

That's not normal, PP. I'm concerned about your mental health.

[Anonymous]

I totally get that people are frustrated... but... crying because the parks aren't open? I seriously envy the kind of life PP has where they think something like this is an actual problem worth crying about.

[Anonymous]

Once again, whenever I get really fed up with Fairfax county I just have to look toward MoCo to realize just how much worse I could be.

[Anonymous]

I don't have young kids who use playgrounds - so I am not emotionally invested, but here is what I know:

Elrich advocated for raises for county officials at the beginning of covid. Council told him to submit a new plan. Elrich did not make major changes in his proposal for raises and council rejected.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/government/council-votes-no-on-employee-raises-next-year-due-to-budget-shortfalls/

Moco opened for Phase 1 on June 1 with Youth sports allowed per strict guidelines. It was on every social media from the county. However, Moco Parks did not allow permits. In May they had shut down permits for all of June and closed camps. Moco Parks did not decide to "allow" a process for permits until 2 weeks later. Permit process started on June 13, to open parks on June 20. Yes, you are right you could show up. But most sports clubs - and the owners we knew - would not risk having violation of no permit as could cause future problems, so unless you got a private school field (talk about elite), kids didn't play.

I'm not sure this is political, but it is a pattern. Incompetence at best; but appears disingenuous.

[Anonymous]

I just emailed and said - Please open! Thanks for the PP who gave the email address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have young kids who use playgrounds - so I am not emotionally invested, but here is what I know:

Elrich advocated for raises for county officials at the beginning of covid. Council told him to submit a new plan. Elrich did not make major changes in his proposal for raises and council rejected.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/government/council-votes-no-on-employee-raises-next-year-due-to-budget-shortfalls/

Moco opened for Phase 1 on June 1 with Youth sports allowed per strict guidelines. It was on every social media from the county. However, Moco Parks did not allow permits. In May they had shut down permits for all of June and closed camps. Moco Parks did not decide to "allow" a process for permits until 2 weeks later. Permit process started on June 13, to open parks on June 20. Yes, you are right you could show up. But most sports clubs - and the owners we knew - would not risk having violation of no permit as could cause future problems, so unless you got a private school field (talk about elite), kids didn't play.

I'm not sure this is political, but it is a pattern. Incompetence at best; but appears disingenuous.

This is what happens when you have people who aren’t accountable to anyone making decisions. It was the same way when Fairfax County parks closed all the parking lots for 2 months. We got a whole litany of reasons/excuses as to why they “needed” to do that. Ultimately though, they didn’t “need” to do anything. It was just easier on the people who work for the parks department to keep the parks largely closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was planning to just cut the fencing at 5:01 today and date them to arrest me (I am rich and white, so they wouldn’t). But it is raining so I will wait until tomorrow morning.

I don’t need guidance to know that playgrounds are low risk activity and that I can make that choice for my family. I wear masks in stores and would never go to a bar/restaurant indoors but let’s use some common sense.

Let me just say I love this type-o!

I’m imagining a rich Karen propositioning a cop at the playground to the soundtrack of “Call me maybe”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally get that people are frustrated... but... crying because the parks aren't open? I seriously envy the kind of life PP has where they think something like this is an actual problem worth crying about.

And I want to know what kind of pleasant life you lead that your kids haven’t been stressed out for the past three months, or however long this thing has gone on for now. Yeah, not having safe places to play for children IS an actual problem for many, many people. Wake up, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally get that people are frustrated... but... crying because the parks aren't open? I seriously envy the kind of life PP has where they think something like this is an actual problem worth crying about.

And I want to know what kind of pleasant life you lead that your kids haven’t been stressed out for the past three months, or however long this thing has gone on for now. Yeah, not having safe places to play for children IS an actual problem for many, many people. Wake up, PP.

I'm amazed at how many people can't even stand a little deprivation. These things take time in order to figure out in the new scheme of things, no one expected the White House to throw up it's hands, so now every decision has to be made at every level. Did the person who heads parks drop the ball, yes. Should people stop crying on the phone, yes.
Calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally get that people are frustrated... but... crying because the parks aren't open? I seriously envy the kind of life PP has where they think something like this is an actual problem worth crying about.

And I want to know what kind of pleasant life you lead that your kids haven’t been stressed out for the past three months, or however long this thing has gone on for now. Yeah, not having safe places to play for children IS an actual problem for many, many people. Wake up, PP.

I realize some people don’t have yards, but for those who do, I don’t see why they are upset about not going to playgrounds.

I never played at playgrounds growing up. My school didn’t even have one. We just had a field and some blacktop.

Kids survived without playgrounds for thousands of years.

It will be next to impossible for kids to socially distance at playgrounds. Plus germs could potentially spread on the equipment. It just is not worth the risk especially for house dwellers with yards.

[Anonymous]

I sent an email too.