Honorable Council Members,
Yesterday whilst walking my dog in Burgess Park at around 4.30 pm I observed that there were 40 or more people of all ages in the skateboard park both skateboarding and riding bicycles. Perhaps five were wearing face masks or face coverings.
Posted at the entrances to the facility are signs stating that masks must be worn as well as the social distancing requirements.
I reported this matter at the police department intercom and returned to the vicinity of the skate park. At around 5.15pm a Menlo Park Police cruiser arrived and parked on Alma Street close to the skate park. The officer, M. Marvin from
his shirt badge, did not go to the skate park but walled the 100 yards over to me and asked what the problem was. I told him that I was expecting the police department to enforce the face mask and social distancing requirements in the skate park. He responded
that this was not something the police force did or would do in the future. I told him that it was my belief that many of the users of the skate park we committing misdemeanors and was that not the responsibility of the police force to enforce. He responded
that I was misinformed. He also told me that the skate park users were not near me and thus not putting me at risk.
The San Mateo Health Department Order No. c19-8(b) Revised of May 19 2020 is still on the County Website and it states it is in effect until revoked. I did not see a revocation order. The order is very clear about face mask and social
distancing requirements and is even more stringent regarding outdoor exercisers such as runners and cyclists. It is clear that the order is supposed to be enforced and is not just a suggestion and it contains language regarding penalties including fines and
imprisonment.
I bring this to the Council’s attention because I believe, that the skate park is a potential transmission hot spot. If all restrictions have been lifted the signage should be removed, because it gives a false indication of the requirements
if that is in fact the case. If the requirements are still in place, then they need to be enforced. This is a community health issue and, given the abject failure to control the virus, there are continuing impacts on us all in a variety of both direct and
indirect ways. Given the controls in place for the aquatic center, it seems absurd to me that the skate park and adjacent basketball court are allowed to operate in the way they do. I will also observe that when the skate park was earlier locked down the
police did nothing to enforce this for those who climbed the fences and trespassed in the facility.
Could you please clarify for me what the current operative Health Control requirements are in the City of Menlo Park and the responsibilities for enforcement of these.
Thank you,
Shaun M. Maguire
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