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Business As Usual On The BeltLine, Despite Coronavirus Warnings
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While bars and restaurants around the city have begun closing down, something else around the city has remained conspicuously open — the Atlanta BeltLine.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shared on Twitter that public health officials "hadn't recommended closure" of Atlanta's more popular outdoor walking trail, but did recommend those going should practice social distancing and remaining 6 feet apart from each other.
A lot of questions regarding the @AtlantaBeltLine. Our public health partners haven’t recommended closure. However, while enjoying our parks & the trail, please exercise social distancing & remain at least 6ft apart. A good time to explore less congested portions of the trail.— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) March 16, 2020
I had spent the past several days practicing all the guidelines that had been recommended by the CDC, including working from home and avoiding anywhere that 50 or more people have gathered. My dog has been slowly going stir crazy without our usual busy dog park, and I've done my best to keep him entertained in our yard.
I was curious whether people were following the same advice for distancing in public spaces still open around the city. Inspired by the mayor's tweet, I decided to be adventurous and make my way to the BeltLine.
I arrived to the park in the middle of the afternoon and was fairly surprised that not only were there still people on the trail, it was actually pretty crowded. People weren't necessarily practicing social distancing, either.
The Fourth Ward Skatepark, adjacent to the BeltLine, was still packed with kids skating and hanging out with each other in close quarters. As I moved through the park and towards the walking path, I had to make room for bikers, skaters and pedestrians making their way onto the trail.
I decided to keep my distance, but as I walked through the Fourth Ward, I realized there really wasn't anything that would give off the indication there was a public health emergency. I spotted a couple holding hands.
Groups of people walking were jogging closer than 6 feet apart. Several people even asked to pet my dog as I was walking him. Several people were walking shoulder to shoulder.
The crowds there weren't limited to a specific generation. I saw millenials and boomers alike.
I didn't notice any kind of signage along the path recommending people practice social distancing or advising about the current health emergency.
I walked for about a mile before I decided to turn around and head back toward my car. There wasn't a moment on the trail when I wasn't around someone either walking, jogging, or biking near me.
As the mayor, the governor, and the CDC continue to say that what we do in the next several weeks will determine how bad the coronavirus outbreak will get, the BeltLine still remains seemingly unmonitored. As the crisis continues, it may become time to reevalute how we approach public parks in the state.
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