You can help us keep parks open

Our State is blessed with an abundance of magnificent open public spaces, from beaches and parks, to gardens and sporting fields, waterways and coastlines. 

In these extraordinary times, our public spaces are going to be even more treasured as we seek to maintain some kind of normality amid the reality of self-isolation, social distancing, and more and more time indoors. 

We know that people with access to green and public places are healthier and happier than those who don’t. We also know that for many Sydneysiders living without a lush backyard, our city’s parks and green spaces are vital to maintain both physical and mental health. 

That’s why closing our parks and our gardens during these times would be a tragedy. 

Already, Victoria has closed its Botanic Gardens, Paris has locked the gates to its beautiful parks, and London has also followed suit. All of these closures could have been avoided had society followed the simple, proven methods that stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Let these examples, and the closure of some of our most iconic beaches, be a lesson to us. For now, I’m keeping our parks and public spaces open, and I encourage others – councils, universities, schools – to do the same. Closing our parks is a last resort but it will happen if people don’t follow social distancing rules. 

At the same time, we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure that these places are safe. We’re increasing cleaning routines, closing seating and BBQ areas and monitoring people’s use of parks.  

If we do the right thing we can keep the green lungs of our city open; the Botanic Gardens, Centennial Park, and Western Sydney Parklands can be our tonic in the weeks and months ahead. Staying healthy, exercising and getting fresh air is vital.

Sydney – these are YOUR public spaces. Please help us keep them open. 

Just as the bushfires reminded us of how lucky we are to have clean air, COVID-19 is reminding us the precious freedom of access to public spaces. To safeguard this freedom, we all have choices that could change the trajectory of this crisis. 

Every single one of us has a vital role to play in controlling the spread of COVID-19: washing hands regularly, keeping 1.5m apart from each other, and staying at home unless absolutely necessary. These measures are not what we’re used to, but they are vital things that we can all do to stop the spread. 

Our public spaces make life more welcoming and accessible. They delight and connect people. They support health and wellbeing, environmental resilience and prosperous local economies. They’re at the heart of everyday life.

I urge everyone to be cautious: to give each other a wide berth. Enjoy our beautiful open spaces that our society has built and maintained for us: the lungs of our cities where we can all take a breath. We need that in the days ahead more than ever.

Rob Stokes, NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister