Santa Maria Rec and Parks Department sees dramatic improvement in physical distancing at city parks

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Santa Maria Recreation and Parks managers say there has been a dramatic improvement in physical distancing compliance at parks.

While maintaining a physical distance visitors are finding their “space” at Centennial Rotary Park.
"People have been courteous respectful and keeping their distance, said visitor Keith Mougeotte.

He says the park has become a quiet place to get fresh air during the Coronavirus pandemic.

But that wasn’t the case a month ago.

"That's right. People were still playing basketball and soccer in these group settings," said Dennis Smitherman with the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department.

Since then city rangers have been educating the community with fliers.

They’ve been actively speaking to people about the importance of physical distancing.

City rangers are now seeing a dramatic improvement.

"What I’m hearing in the field and also observing as I am out on patrol is a lot of improvement obviously some of the basketball hoops were removed and that accomplished a lot as far as the basketball groups were concerned," said City Ranger Casey Stone.

Visitors were pleased with how people are getting along while keeping their distance.

City rangers are currently focusing on city-wide patrol to make sure everyone is maintaining a physical distance.

Since putting up physical distance signs city rangers say they have not seen any large group sports activities.