Social Distancing on Trails and Open Spaces During COVID-19

Source: City of Goleta

The City of Goleta is fortunate to have beautiful outdoor spaces that are providing places for our community members to get much needed mental and physical breaks. during the Stay at Home Order.  However, it’s important that our community practice social distancing even while using the City’s trails and open spaces.

Please follow important guidelines from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) below, and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

  • Refrain from using parks or trails if you are exhibiting symptoms.
  • Follow the CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to and during use of parks or trails.
  • Prepare for limited access to public restrooms or water fountains.
  • While on trails, warn other users of your presence as you pass, and step aside to let others pass.
  • Observe CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of 6 feet from other individuals at all times. If this is not possible, users should find an alternate location or depart that space.
  • Consult local and state ordinances and guidelines for the most up to date recommendations on park and trail use.

As a reminder, to prevent further spread of COVID-19, access to the City’s play structures, exercise equipment and skatepark are prohibited.

The Stay at Home Order for California issued by Governor Newsom last week urges people to stay home as much as possible. People can go out for essential needs such as food, healthcare needs, caring for a relative or friend, and to get fresh air by going for a walk, run, or bike ride alone or with those you live with. Learn more about the Stay at Home Order here.

Outdoor areas are needed now more than ever to help us get through this time of uncertainty. Staff is working hard to maintain these spaces and keep them safe, accessible, and benefiting our communities during these challenging times. We are asking everyone do their part to use these areas in a way that respects each other and follows public health guidance. 

Learn more about how the City of Goleta is responding to COVID-19 at www.CityofGoleta.org. Please also visit the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department information portal for the latest information.

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  1. I literally just said to follow safe practices and recommended guidelines, yet you feel the need to reply to everyone on this website who doesn’t unequivocally recommend to stay inside at all times. Again — no need to respond if my words don’t apply. Stay safe!

  2. PUG – right, but you CAN be 6 feet (more is better) away from groups from other households. For example, you can go to the beach and have your family set up and then a friend’s family can be 10 feet away in their group. You can still wave to, talk to and cheers each other, just no close contact. It is legal and safe to see people from a distance. People need the social interaction, even if it’s 10 feet away.

  3. PUG – getting outdoors and some fresh air is 100% essential to most people. Even if there are people at the beach, it is the easiest place on earth to get away from groups and yes, you can even sit on the sand with your kids/family and just “hang out.” It is safe if you use the most basic, common sense.

  4. There is NO need to close parks and beaches. I was at Girsh park on Saturday playing catch/hitting balls (whiffle and heavies) with my wife and kids and there were other individuals and groups of people (families) there too. We kept our distance (like 50 -100 yards) and easily did our thing safely. If you don’t want to go outside, that is fine. But please don’t force the rest of us just because you’re incapable of being outdoors safely.

  5. I love it when it rains, and give me a “breather” from worrying about covids “jumping” on me from God only knows where. I have not heard anything about seafood being affected by this covid business. I probably won’t eat any seafood for a while (maybe the frozen Mrs. Pauls or Gorton’s fish sticks would be covid-free). I had a Jack in the Box fish sandwich (combo, w/fries and drink) a few days ago, and it was reallllly good and quite filling.

  6. 3:19 – Exactly! At parks, I’ve eaten all manner of snack, local and domestic, including and not limited to the following: chips (potato AND corn, but not tortilla), corned nuts, corned beef, meats on sticks, meat (and some veggie “meat”) on buns as well, also turkey. I’ve also enjoyed different beverages, such as, juice in a box, milk, water, various soda varieties, juice in a bottle (sometimes mixed juices), non alcoholic (and yes alcoholic) beers, sometimes also tea. Don’t get me started on what I eat at beaches………

  7. Thank you, Goleta! You see? I’ve been telling many here that it is perfectly legal, safe and allowed to go outdoors. Please get outside and get some air before we’re no longer able to! Go outside, have fun, but be safe and smart. It’s so easy to do this!

  8. Let’s be real, it is absolutely in no way “perfectly safe”. People need to stay much further than 6 feet away from each other when they are outdoors. Get outdoors, but stay off of narrow trails and out of crowded areas – no exceptions. People believing they are the exception is exactly what is spreading this virus.

  9. 12:23 – It IS perfectly safe it you use some simple common sense. Yes, stay further than 6 ft away, avoid narrow trails, etc. THEN it is 100% safe. Go to the beach, walk on the bluffs, play catch with your kids at the park – all of these are totally safe unless you are also running up to people for hugs or licking drinking fountains. My point is, and has always been, you can safely get outside and even meet friends outside at a distance and keep your sanity by getting air and seeing other people. Be safe and smart, it’s SOOOOOOO easy!

  10. Just to clarify, wearing a mask has very little to do with you getting infected. Wearing a mask helps others because if you are infected, and in the early stages and asymptomatic, then the mask limits how far you are spewing droplets to infect other people. If you want to wear stuff to keep you from getting infected, you need the whole PPE outfilt- gown, faceshield or goggles, mask, and gloves. And even then it doesn’t always work- just ask the health care workers that are infected.

  11. If a person has no idea that they have the Wuhan Virus, and cough/gag/spew 10/30/50 yards upwind of you, it’s unlikely, but entirely possible that you could become infected. Stay away people. Turning your heads while passing each other isn’t going to cut it and some of you WILL become infected. This is not best practice. God have mercy on those of you who do not listen, and may God help us who get this ugly thing from “social distancers” who are not following the guidelines just to fulfill their selfish desires and “needs.”

  12. 9:18 – “Selfish needs?” Do you have kids? Do you have any idea how important it is for the human mind, both young and old, to get outdoors and get fresh air? And the whole 50 yards away thing is unfounded and irresponsible. You are not going to get it from a cough 50 yards away, even if the wind blows directly at you. Air particles (and moisture droplets) disperse quickly. They’re not going to catch a ride on the wind directly into your face. That is absurd and has never once been suggested. If that were truly a concern, then people wouldn’t be allowed to even go outside and get their mail. Heck, most peoples’ mailboxes are less than 50 yards apart (closer to 10 in most places). I’ll be outside again today, letting my kids run in the grass and breath fresh clean air, while keeping beyond even shouting distance from others. ALSO, it’s not called the “Wuhan Virus”.

  13. PM: Brush fires are named after the places they originated, same with diseases, etc. You call it poe-tay-toe, I call it Wuhan Virus (although it goes by several other names). For example, my super-smart friend was telling me about the Quercus agrifolia in their back yard and I had no idea that they were talking about an oak tree (a California Live Oak tree to be specific). In the end we all know what we’re talking about. Stay at home, and stay safe, but above all else, let’s get along with one another during these trying times without lashing out over the trivial non-important stuff. It’s a beautiful day indeed. Namaste.

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