Northcote and Edinburgh Gardens skate parks: Skaters flout mask rules
Skaters, some not wearing masks, are ignoring the coronavirus lockdown, flocking to popular parks such as Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North and All Nations in Northcote to get their fix.
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Popular parks have been inundated with maskless skaters flouting rules and directives from the State Government.
Under lockdown rules, skate parks in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are closed to the public, but that hasn’t stopped people flocking to parks in Edithvale and Northcote.
The Leader saw skaters at Edinburgh Gardens, some without masks, despite there being fencing and a bowl closed sign there in the past few days.
It’s unclear who took the fencing and sign down.
In Northcote at the All Nations park skaters and bike riders dipped underneath tape to get their fix.
Isabella Rottura said she often sees it going on when she picks her daughter up from school across the road.
“From about 3pm onwards every day they’re there,” she said.
“I’ve called the council to let them know about it a couple of days ago but nothing has been done yet.
“They’re clearly not meant to be using the bowls there but it’s just become a bit of a free for all.”
Ms Rottura said with COVID-19 numbers not diminishing it was worrying to see the skaters continuing to use the park.
“If we all have to do the right thing and abide by the rules but there are others who aren’t, then it’s a problem,” she said.
“They could just go for a walk or a ride with their mates.”
It comes days after Bayside Council used sand and gravel to fill skating bowls in their municipality to deter people from using them.
Sergeant Lance Crawshaw said Bayside police had been flooded with reports about large number of young people meeting up at skate parks.
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