As the weather gets warmer and a statewide “stay-at-home” order is extended, people are heading outside for exercise and fresh air.  But local city governments say many are gathering in groups and not distancing as ordered.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, cities are making changes to local parks to help enforce the rules.

As of Monday, all parks in New Castle are closed to the public.  According to the New Castle Police Department on Facebook, city government has received “numerous tips and complaints” of people gathering at the parks.   The city says people are welcome to still walk or run around the exterior of the parks, as long as they distance themselves from others.

Complaints have also been heard in Muncie, where parks are open, but as Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour says, playgrounds are not.

“We are not in a position where we can clean that equipment after every individual child plays on that equipment.”

Ridenour says after he heard of “youngsters” meeting to play full-court basketball games together, the city must take more steps to ensure safe parks during COVID-19.

“We put wood up on top of the goals to disable those.  And several of the parks – several of the ‘offenders,’ I’ll call them, came and took those wood pieces off.  So we’re going to take down the goals today.”

READ MORE: Can I Go For A Walk? Here’s What A ‘Stay-At-Home’ Order Really Does

In Marion and Anderson, parks are also open, but playground are not.  Anderson has also closed the city-owned Grandview Golf Course and Disc Golf at Edgewater Park.

State and federal health officials suggest keeping 6 feet between you and other people, even outside, to help stop the spread of COVID-19.