Pasadena to Reopen Playgrounds After State Turnabout

[UPDATED] State health officials reversed course on Wednesday and allowed outdoor playgrounds to reopen, despite initially being closed under COVID-19 restrictions, 

The reversal means Pasadena can open outdoor playgrounds despite a Los Angeles County order mandating their closure.

According to Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian, outdoor playgrounds in Pasadena will be opened tomorrow.

Because Pasadena has its own health department, the city is not obligated to adhere to the county’s health orders, but must comply with all state orders.

“We have 24 parks and need to put some equipment back in place and remove barriers,” Derderian said. “Strict COVID safety protocols will remain in place.”

The city reserves the right to shutter the playgrounds if COVID guidelines are not followed. 

L.A. County ordered the closure of indoor and outdoor playgrounds in late November, responding to a local COVID-19 surge that saw the county surpass a five-day average of 4,500 new daily coronavirus cases.

The state’s regional stay-at-home order, which took effect late Sunday night across Southern California, also ordered them closed. But in the face of pressure from parents and legislators, the state reversed course.

According to the state’s website, “playgrounds may remain open to facilitate physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise. Playgrounds located on schools that remain open for in-person instruction, and not accessible by the general public, may remain open and must follow guidance for schools and school-based programs.”

This is the second time in two days that state and county orders have come into conflict. On Tuesday, Judge James Chalfant ruled that the county acted arbitrarily when it closed outdoor dining, but they must remain closed due to the state order. 

County officials could not be immediately reached for comment on whether the local restriction would be changed in line with the state.

Individual counties are permitted to enact stricter health regulations than the state.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, led a group of a dozen legislators who sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom last week urging him to remove playgrounds from the stay at home order. They claimed opening playgrounds “is necessary for the mental and physical health of children to have opportunities to expend their physical energy and play.” 

They also noted that in some low-income neighborhoods, “families may have little to no outdoor space of their own available.”