After individuals gathered en masse in San Francisco’s Dolores Park to take pleasure in sunshine and contemporary air this weekend, Mayor London Breed threatened to shut the big, well-liked park if crowding continues.

Metropolis officers are starting to raise restrictions and open some out of doors companies and recreation, however on Monday throughout a information convention, Breed and different metropolis leaders careworn that it’s not the time to let up on social distancing measures as San Francisco works to fend off the coronavirus.

“Dolores continues to be an actual problem as a result of we all know that on good days, that’s the place to be for a lot of people,” Breed mentioned. “We’re all adults right here. There’s no purpose we must always must ship in any of our regulation enforcement to inform individuals what they need to already be doing.”

San Francisco Police Chief Invoice Scott mentioned in Dolores and different parks across the metropolis, individuals are gathering for “picnics in giant teams” with individuals from totally different households.

“Now’s not the time to have giant picnics (or) giant gatherings, though the climate is nice and everyone seems to be anxious about being in the home. We have now to remain the course and hearken to the recommendation of medical professionals,” he mentioned.

On Monday afternoon, individuals stretched out to sunbathe, chatted with associates and skim or labored on blankets on the park, but it surely was a lot much less crowded than it was in the course of the weekend. For probably the most half, individuals sat in twos or threes with ample grassy area between them.

Two teams of San Francisco law enforcement officials patrolled the park, approaching varied teams — particularly louder and bigger ones — to inform them to area out and preserve social distancing. One officer mentioned they’d no points and have been merely monitoring.

Neel Iyer and Oshi Jain sat on a patch of grass with coffees and laptops open. They mentioned they’d averted the park on weekends, and selected to come back throughout a quieter time as an alternative to get some work achieved within the sunshine.

“You want to for this to be open,” Iyer mentioned, however added that public well being is most essential. “If this place is de facto getting crowded, I assume I’d perceive (if it closes).”

Julian Wallace tossed a brilliant orange ball for his canine to chase. He lives throughout the road and brings his canine to the park between work conferences so that they each can get some air and train. He’d be disenchanted if it closed.

“What’s the level of doing it now?” Wallace mentioned, including that he thinks enforcement and compliance could be troublesome. “Individuals are going to get actually pissed off.”

Dominic Fracassa contributed to this report.