The California Department of Health has guidelines for keeping outdoor community playgrounds safe for all. The new guidance allows outdoor playgrounds to be open, with COVID-safety guidelines in place. This guidance provides direction on the usage of outdoor playgrounds and outdoor recreational facilities to support a safe environment for children and families. It applies to outdoor playgrounds located in parks, campgrounds, and other publicly accessible locations including Sonoma City parks. The City of Sonoma will be posting updated signage at playgrounds with the new guidelines soon.
As outlined in the guidelines, visitors to outdoor community playgrounds must comply with the following requirements:
- Face masks over the mouth and nose are required for everyone 2 years of age or older with caregiver supervision at all times to ensure face mask use.
- Do not use the playground when different households are unable to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or when the capacity limit has been reached.
- Caregivers must monitor to keep adults and children from different households at least 6 feet apart.
- Consider coming on different times or days to avoid wait times and potentially crowded times.
- No eating or drinking in the playground, to ensure face masks are worn at all times.
- Wash or sanitize hands before and after using the playground.
- The elderly and persons with underlying medical conditions should avoid the playground when others are present.
- Limit visit to 30 min per day when others are present.
Please read the state guidelines for outdoor playgrounds for complete information. Learn more about the status of activities in Sonoma County on the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy website.