From yard sales to BBQs, Lexington police respond to 86 calls about large groups
Lexington police received 86 calls from Friday to Sunday about alleged large group gatherings that ran afoul of social distancing guidelines, an official said Monday.
Some were typical. Others were not.
“We had a couple of yard sales we were called to,” said Brenna Angel, a police department spokeswoman. “We also got calls for private residences, people having cookouts.”
Some of those 86 calls were repeats — or multiple people calling about the same yard sale or alleged social distancing violation, she said.
Angel said the police department encourages larger groups to break up if the group is still there when officers arrive. However, unless the group gathering is violating other city ordinances —such as the noise ordinance — police cannot issue citations.
“We can cite people for criminal trespassing if it is in an area of the park that has been closed like a shelter or a playground,” Angel said.
Police got some calls about larger groups in the city’s parks or in parking lots, she said.
“A lot of times, by the time police get there, they are no longer there,” Angel said.
City officials said Monday the number of large groups in the city’s more than 100 parks was down this weekend compared to a week ago. To stop large gatherings in parks, the city implemented stricter controls last week, including shutting down city playgrounds and blockading parking lots in and adjacent to parks.
“Despite the beautiful weather this weekend, crowds were down and more people followed social distancing in our parks,” said Mayor Linda Gorton at a press conference Monday.
Monica Conrad, the director of Lexington Parks and Recreation, said the city continues to monitor park activity closely. The city re-opened one parking lot at Veterans Park on the south side of Lexington because so many people were parking on neighborhood streets, she said.
The parks are open for walkers and joggers but the city has repeatedly stressed that people maintain six feet of social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus that has killed seven people in Fayette County and more than 45 people statewide.
In addition to shutting down playgrounds, the city has also shut down its two large natural areas —McConnell Springs and Raven Run —to hikers. Golf courses, athletic fields and shelters have been closed. Other cities in Kentucky have taken similar steps.
Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered state lodges, cottages and campgrounds in the state parks closed but hiking trails remain open.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 1:47 PM.
