After President Donald Trump gave governors the power to reopen their states, Mayor Lenny Curry announced that beaches and parks in Jacksonville, Florida, will be opened. The city’s mayor stated that this means that the beaches and parks will operate that same way before. These places will only be open for what was termed as essential activities. Not only that, but the operation will only be for limited hours.
According to the Epoch Times, the essential activities were narrowed down to a list. These activities are walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets, and surfing. Mayor Lenny specified that only parks and beaches in Duval County are subject to these changes. Some golf courses run by the city will reopen during their regular operating hours as well. All these activities will adhere to social distancing guidelines.
In his statement, the mayor said, “This can be the beginning of the pathway to normal life. ” He emphasized that with the reopening of these places comes the responsibility to respect and follow the limitations imposed. He warned people to stay within the guidelines for the sake of themselves and the people they would encounter.
Mayor Curry said that parks and beaches would have limited hours of operation. According to ABC News, beaches will be open from 6 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. with swimmers and surfers allowed to go into the water at their own risk. Parks within Duval County will also be open from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and then from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Jacksonville’s facilities, such as comfort rooms, pavilions, and picnic areas, will remain closed. Activities such as overnight camping and organized group activities like picnics or team sports remain prohibited. The guidelines of the executive order state that a gathering of 50 people or fewer is still in force.
One of the issues that people have is the reopening of the economy. On Thursday, President Trump presented a three-phase guideline for a gradual reopening of the economy. However, in the end, he gave state governors the final decision as to whether or not they’d follow these guidelines.
The plan is called “Opening Up America Again.” A team of experts made this plan, and the president cited data that are encouraging in these trying times. He said, “Our experts say the curve has flattened and the peak in new cases is behind us. Nationwide, more than 850 counties, or nearly 30 percent, have reported no new case in the last seven days.” President Trump took into account the various states’ different situations. In his statement, he said that some states would open much sooner than the others. There may be some that will open before the deadline, which is May 1.
Lifting the restrictions remains to be the subject of debate for the Trump administration. It continues to be the case with the decision to choose to save lives and for others to continue making a living.