Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed an order April 8 to temporarily close all parks countywide throughout the upcoming Easter weekend, April 10-13, in hopes of discouraging social gatherings.
The decision follows Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's order to temporarily close state parks and historical sites beginning April 7 to curb the spread of coronavirus.
"For the longer term, it seems to me that folks have been doing quite well at not congregating and not playing sports—certainly I know everyone's closed down their benches, their exercise areas," County Judge Lina Hidalgo said during an April 7 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting. "I do have the concern, though, that for the Easter weekend, I do think that it would be prudent to just shut [the parks] down. I think we're just inviting a problem and we might as well cut that out for this weekend and then we can go back to ... the more relaxed standards. I just think with the Easter weekend, it's a risk we shouldn't run. We can't risk everyone coming together for a weekend and, if we can help it, we ought to."
Following discussion with Harris County's four precinct commissioners, Hidalgo formally announced the closure April 8.
