Hongkou Reopens Parks for the Public

By Qi Chuanbin

Luxun Park, Heping Park and so on were reopened to the public on March 16, which means that 11 parks in Hongkou are reopened officially. Therefore, the greening department and each park will meet various tests, including the queuing time, the opened sites in parks and the disinfection work, while meeting the people’s needs in enjoying flowers and having an outing in spring.

Multiple initiatives improve efficiency to get into parks.

A dozen residents were in an orderly queue in the snake-shaped passage at the north gate of Luxun Park at about 08:00 on March 16. With the staff taking temperature one by one, only those wearing masks and with normal temperature can get into the park. After staying at home for more than a month, they saw the reopening notice on the Internet the other day and got up early to see the outside situation.

According to Shi Xiaofeng, Executive Deputy Director of Luxun Park, the relevant departments of the District Greening Management Center and all the staff of the Park were dispatched on the previous day to cope with passenger influx that may occur on the first day of reopening and to take simulated exercise to sort out problems that may emerge. "We limit the people flow with a snake-shaped passage to avoid clustering. Considering that the entrance is next to the main road and the site is narrow, we eventually set up the passage on the main path at the entrance. Moreover, the exit will serve as a smooth access for wheelchairs and mopeds to maximize to help the people with mobility difficulties, thus improving the efficiency."

The staff kept reminding the public at the snake-shaped passage that please wear a mask throughout the whole time and take temperature. Once finding abnormal temperature on someone, the staff would take them to temporary isolation sites, and report to the relevant departments.

Hundreds of people have been entering the park from the north gate as of 11:00, but the queue keeps in order at the passage. And it takes less than half a minute from taking temperature to entering the park.

The staff will safeguard the whole process.

Shi advised tourists taking exercise in the square area at 13:30 that COVID-19 has been lately under the control, but we should still be careful and do not take off the mask in the park.

According to Shi, the passage influx is one of the main characteristics of management in Luxun Park. Thus, the focus is to fight against COVID-19 and keep smooth and orderly opening of the park, which would meet certain difficulties. In response, the District Greening and Urban Appearance Bureau further strengthens monitoring and inspection at fixed sites, leads in advance the relevant functional departments, park management offices, volunteers and other forces to set up a patrol mechanism for time-limited opening, stops incorrect behavior in time, and eliminates hidden dangers.

Moreover, the staff will issue a notice on square dance, chorus and other gathering activities in advance, which are currently suspended. Besides, children's parks, boat docks and other recreational projects will be closed continuously. "By the end of this month, the cherry blossoms in the park will be in full bloom, and we have made a special response plan to control the instantaneous people flow during the rush hour."

According to the requirements for COVID-19 control, the staff should frequently disinfect the reopened parks and the facilities, such as chairs, handrails, signs and other parts that may remain and spread virus, which is carried out not less than twice a day. The public toilets should be disinfected 3 times a day and be ventilated in time; and the collection and disposal of garbage and green-space waste in the park should be standardized, so that the trash can be cleaned up every day.

Different parks should have different plans.

Since receiving the notice to reopen parks, the District Greening and Urban Appearance Bureau and each park have made the reopening plans in detail from the aspects of control measures, temporary isolation sites, reopening scope, personnel arrangement and so on, in a bid to realize the "One Plan for One Park" and to meet the reopening requirements.

Chuanbei Park is the district's first park opened for 24 hours. Based on strictly taking new measures for COVID-19 control, it is the first to be reopened on March 13. There are more gates in the park, but only one at North Sichuan Road is opened for the public, while the others and Dashan Area are closed continuously. It is opened from 08:00 to 17:00, and it doesn’t allow the people to get into the park after 16:00.

The head of Heping Park where animals are kept strengthens efforts on disinfection, especially for breeders who have close contact with animals. The park's animal island still suspends the ticket sales to avoid interaction between the public and animals.

"After the reopening, all the parks will meet various tests every day. The COVID-19 control of each park will be adjusted in time according to actual situations. The District Greening and Urban Appearance Bureau and the park management office will focus on studying and formulating rules for reopening crowded areas such as tea rooms and playgrounds in the park in accordance with relevant requirements, and gradually reopen the whole area and further enhance the recreation for the public."