海角大神

Michael Gately and his girlfriend used to go on walks a couple of times a week. Since they鈥檝e been required to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic, they鈥檝e been going almost every day.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unquestionably the bright spot of my day,鈥� he says. Although, he adds, 鈥渢here鈥檚 not much else you can do right now.鈥�

On a sunny Monday afternoon, he鈥檚 joined dozens of people who have spilled out of their homes onto the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, a popular 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake in the heart of Austin. The trail, like public parks around the city, has stayed open even as the rest of the city has locked down.

How long that will be the case, Mr. Gately doesn鈥檛 know. But judging by the crowds, and the narrowness of the trail at points, he says he鈥檇 understand if it is closed.

鈥淗ealth officials have a real dilemma on their hands,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey want us out here, but at what cost?鈥�

Editor鈥檚 note: As a public service,聽all our coronavirus coverage聽is free. No paywall.

Austin is one of hundreds of cities across the country navigating this dilemma. With people confined to their homes, outdoor activity has become crucial to maintaining physical and mental health 鈥� and it鈥檚 also one of the only activities people can do outside their homes.

Around the world, those self-isolating have been surging into parks and onto trails. Yet in the age of social distancing, can crowded public spaces, even green ones, comply? Could closing them provoke a backlash that鈥檚 even more dangerous for public health? The issue has been a vexing one, and responses have varied.

In Britain, park closures have been threatened, but for the most part not implemented. In most Texas cities, parks have stayed open. In Los Angeles, city parks and beaches have closed. In New Jersey, all county and many city parks are closed. While in New York City 鈥� a COVID-19 hot spot right next door 鈥� Central Park has remained open.

The arguments to keep them open are compelling.

鈥淣o drug or supplements are as good as [physical] activity in helping the immune system do its job better,鈥� says David Nieman, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Appalachian State University in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He argues that public green spaces should be closed only as a last resort.聽

鈥淚 put everything on a benefit-risk continuum,鈥� he adds. 鈥淭here are risks, yes, but if everyone follows the guidelines, I think the benefits outweigh the risks.鈥�

The Quigleys may hike now

For parks that have remained open, a variety of rules have come in to keep users safe.

In New York City, Central Park鈥檚 leafy 843 acres are one of the few places where social distancing can be safely practiced. Staff with the Central Park Conservancy has been cleaning and maintaining benches, landscapes, and water bodies in the park.

In Dallas, use of the Katy Trail is being regulated alphabetically. For example, those with last names beginning with A through L should use the trail on Thursday and Saturday.

And in Austin, new rules include limiting parking spaces and having park rangers remind visitors of social distancing guidelines. Traffic on the Butler trail is now moving clockwise only.

鈥淲e assumed it would be closed by the city. It was decided they didn鈥檛 want to take that step yet,鈥� says Heidi Anderson, CEO of The Trail Foundation, a nonprofit focused on protecting and improving the trail. 鈥淭he trail doesn鈥檛 accommodate high traffic and allow for 6-feet distancing around the whole loop.鈥�

But usage of the Butler trial increased from 134,000 people in March last year to 146,000 people in March this year. 鈥淲e hear over and over again people use the trail not just for exercise but because it鈥檚 their church,鈥� says Ms. Anderson.

Sand in skate parks

Green spaces have certainly been a blessing for Austin鈥檚 Megan Divvern. She鈥檚 working at a pharmacy while going to pharmacy school, and spending time outdoors 鈥渉elps take your mind off things.鈥�

She could make do walking around her apartment complex or the surrounding streets if the city decided to close parks. But she doesn鈥檛 think there鈥檚 too much risk keeping them open.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 on people, on individuals, to keep their distance,鈥� she says.

Cities have at times had to crack down. Parks and trails were closed in Asheville, North Carolina, last month after large groups were gathering in parking lots. And in Los Angeles, the city dumped sand in a shuttered skate park where locals kept gathering.

鈥淚f people can鈥檛 keep 6 feet apart because it鈥檚 so crowded, I agree at that point you just have to close it down,鈥� says Dr. Nieman. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I encourage people to go at off-hours or [exercise] some other place. I鈥檇 encourage people to not [ruin] it for everyone else.鈥�

Mr. Gately hopes it doesn鈥檛 come to that. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so beautiful,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a reminder we can still have positive experiences, even during a time like this.鈥�

Editor鈥檚 note: As a public service,聽all our coronavirus coverage聽is free. No paywall.