Are parks busier where you are?

[confusedofengland]

Has anybody else noticed that since lockdown started, the parks are busier than ever?

We went to our small village park yesterday with the DC. We go there every other weekend & usually have it to ourselves or there are a maximum of 10 people there including us. Yesterday there were 25+! Then today we walked to woods attached to a popular (but large, 500+ acres) park & noticed that both car parks were so full that the cars were parking 2 abreast outside of parking spaces The woods themselves were busier than usual but not too bad. It feels a bit like lockdown 2.0 is driving everyone to the same places!

It's hardly a surprise is it? There's literally nowhere else for families to go! Indoor stuff all shut, visiting family is out, so back to parks and woods it is

I think it’s that all the people who would usually go to the shops etc are being forced outside so there is more people everywhere. Which kind of defeats the object of lock down. My local park wasn’t open bad but the nature reserve that I always walk in (10mins walk from my house) was heaving with people queuing into the car park and the takeaway cafe was queuing for hours!

I can’t see how this is better than what we had before lockdown really, ok they are outside but all sorts of people mixing with strangers.

We just got back and park was very busy, but it’s not surprising

Er yes of course they are.

Park and beach very busy here but not unexpected. What else is there to do and the weather has been quite bright here.

Yes. I was thinking that while out for a walk. I've never seen it so busy.

I agree it's not surprising, but it was definitely something I remarked upon. I expect the beautiful weather we've had here has added to it, too.

Yes, but it's hardly surprising - there's sod all else to do!

Well duh.
It's healthy to get out and move especially now the days are dull with crap weather.
People aren't gathering at swimming pools, gyms, sports clubs, going out for lunch, allowed into each others homes so of course they're going to parks.

Outdoors is a near to negligable risk if you're not in close, prolonged contact so it's a good thing that people are gravitating to parks in many ways.

My DCs last organised activity was on Monday and screen time is already through the roof. So a few times a week when we've walked back from school, we'll aim to get in the car and drive off to a park for a walk/ scoot/ play to keep them active and away from screens.

We went to the park yesterday. It was a nice day here so I was expecting it to be a little busier than usual but it was absolute heaving. Nobody was social distancing. We didn’t go in to the play area in the end as it was so busy.

Beach was heaving on saturday. Nice to see so many people enjoying it.

Heaving round here too...

Well the weather was nice and there’s nothing else open!

We know there is minuscule risk outdoors so I don’t see the problem? Other than it being a bit annoying!

Heaving, hundreds in mine. Huge “families” of up to 18, definitely from multiple households. Lots of groups of friends etc. No social distancing.

I haven't said that I think it is a problem, I was merely making an observation & wondering if it is the same everywhere. The main annoyance with it, for me, is the huge volumes of traffic all heading to the same place. We are lucky enough to have a massive country park, 2 good playgrounds & lots of fields with public footpaths nearby, plus a good-sized village green, so we shall walk to places & keep the car for shopping, school runs & hospital appointments for my grandparents, for now. I realise not everyone has that much they can walk to.

Yes definitely busier. Completely expected, there’s nowhere else for people to go.
Our nearest decent park is a 10 min drive away.

Yep local parks and beauty spots very busy.

Lots of families cycling. Which is fine, but do worry a lot of people have not got proper lights and bright jackets for dusk. Suspect there could be an increase in accidents as a result. Unfortunately a lot of car drivers seem to be speeding as the roads are quieter.

We went to the park both yesterday and today and it was busier than usual but as people said I wasn't surprised. We wouldn't normally go twice in a weekend but then at the time we went to the park yesterday we'd normally be at toddler swimming - so I suspect the park was full of other people who, like us wouldn't have been there if other things were open!

Yes, it’s quite nice really.

We definitely go to the park more than before since the other options - visiting museums, friends etc are off the table - I’ve discovered a few that I’d never been to before.

Yeah. But at 8.15am we were the only ones there... By the time we were heading home for lunch at 11am it was packed.

Going early would definitely be a good strategy, but we are enjoying the fact that the DSes finally let us lie in (smallest DS is 6)

Yes,definitely busier,just got back from walking the dog and there were quite a few families playing.(before it got dark).It was lovely to see.

Yes, I commented to DH yesterday that you could tell we were back in lockdown by the number of people in the parks. Though it's now damp enough you wouldn't want to sit on the grass, so it was even more crowded (though still very low risk) on the paths.

Yes. Heaving

Of course they are busy, everything else is shut...

People are running or cycling instead of going to the gym and heading out for a walk because the only other alternative is staying at home.

I really liked seeing all the families playing when I took my dog out this weekend, lots of cute toddlers in puddle suits! (Then again I am pregnant and incredibly fond of children atm ).