Port Washington Skate Park Closes Indefinitely Due To Coronavirus

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — A popular Port Washington skate park has closed indefinitely to help combat rising coronavirus cases in the area.

The skate park, on the north side of Manorhaven Beach Park, is a local favorite among teens and tweens who ride skateboards, bicycles and scooters on the ramps. Over the summer, groups of unmasked children could often be seen congregating at the skate park, and social distancing was not strictly observed.

On Monday, Town of North Hempstead officials said the park would close until further notice in the interest of public safety and preventing the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. The town also reminded residents to follow all state-mandated and recommended precautions including social distancing from others outside the household, regular hand-washing, avoiding face-touching, avoiding large social gatherings and events, and wearing a mask in public when unable to social distance.

Many residents took to Facebook to express displeasure over the closure.

In a post to a local Facebook group, one neighbor said: "These are individual sports that are outside and require a lot of room to do tricks. There are no employees monitoring the park and there are no signs anywhere by the skate park that say it is mandated to wear masks or social distance although we are all smart enough to know what is best for ourselves and our children. With all the activities closing down this outdoor sport is safe and an outlet for our kids please call [Supervisor Judi] Bosworth or email her to get the skate park open again so our kids can have some fun outside."

Another said that even after the town technically closed the skate park, children continued to use it.

"If there is a desire to keep it open, I would impress upon these kids that masks are required even tho they are outdoors. The area is not that big and they do stop and talk to each other," she said.

The closure comes after officials in Nassau County, North Hempstead and five village mayors urged Port Washington residents to remain vigilant amid rising cases in the area.

In a letter to the community, officials said New York has seen an increase in positive tests for the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. Clusters have formed in Queens, Brooklyn and elsewhere throughout the state.

"Unfortunately, there has also been an increasing number of reported COVID-19 cases in Port Washington as well," the letter said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said Great Neck moved into a yellow zone, meaning new restrictions would be levied on dining, gathering and houses of worship. On Tuesday, he said Long Island was on track to hit an 18 percent positivity rate by early January.

Click here to see a bar chart race showing the increase in coronavirus cases in the Town of North Hempstead from April 21 through Sunday, Nov. 22.