Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA County Has Closed Hiking Trails Because Too Many People Are Gathering
People practicing social distancing to protect themselves from the coronavirus take in a sunny day while hiking a popular trail in the Santa Monica mountain range in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Brian Melley/AP
()
To get some fresh air and exercise, you don't have to stay home, but you can't hike Los Angeles County's trails.
All trails managed by the county's Department of Parks and Recreations are closed until further notice.
⚠️Trails Currently Closed🌄 Our priority is the safety of our guests. Recently #LACOUNTYPARKS had a surge of visitors & are not able to keep #socialdistancing. We invite you to visit your local County Park for🚶paths,🏃🏾trails &🐕dog walking areas. Updates https://t.co/fzVqVsIqlc pic.twitter.com/yzP10ueekx
— Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation (@lacountyparks) March 24, 2020
The county's initial Safer at Home order allowed for outdoor activities, including hiking. Now authorities are asking that county residents stay in their neighborhoods for fresh air and exercise and avoid parks, trails and local beaches, where large crowds gathered over the weekend.
Support for LAist comes from
"There are many people — and everyone saw the pictures all weekend — who are congregating on our trails, and on the beaches," county health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said during a media briefing today. "This is not appropriate and we ask you when you're out and about, wherever you are, to practice the maximum amount of social distancing possible, even in our outdoor spaces."
Not all of the county's communication seems to have been updated to reflect this change — the Safer at Home order still notes that hiking is OK, for instance — so we're working to get some clarity on this.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
- Your No-Panic Guide To Coronavirus In LA So Far
- Tracking The Spread Of COVID-19
- Have A Question? We Will Answer It
SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COVID-19
We're all living through this extraordinary and frightening pandemic. The vast majority of our newsroom has been working from home (here's some advice on that) since March 11 to bring you calm, helpful reporting. We are answering your questions and taking more.
We're here to help. And if you can help support that effort financially, we'd be grateful.
Support for LAist comes from
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletter for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Support our free, independent journalism today. Donate now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist