OTHELLO — Othello City Council decided to temporarily close local parks last week following Gov. Jay Inslee’s decree for Washington residents to stay at home to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Othello Parks and Recreation coordinator Randy Gomez said the closure affects the parks in town, including the basketball and playground areas at Lions Park and Kiwanis Park.

“Our parks are very popular, especially the basketball areas,” Gomez said. “So we just wanted to follow Gov. Inslee’s request to minimize the risk of infection.”

Washington residents’ opportunities for outdoor recreation have been reduced in the wake of COVID-19. The state parks department last week temporarily closed all government-controlled lands, waterways and wildlife areas.

Following Inslee’s order closing businesses and schools, Gomez said a lot of local people took advantage of their local parks.

“After the shutdown, we still got people out on the basketball courts and the playgrounds,” Gomez said. “You’d want to get out too, you wouldn’t want to be cooped up inside your house.”

Othello Parks and Recreation had earlier canceled the spring soccer and flag football seasons, which were due to begin in April. The summer Little League program, Gomez said, is postponed, but once given the green light, the traditional Little League festivities will begin as quickly as they can get them going.

“Right now, we’re still planning on having Little League,” Gomez said. “And then we still have a fall football and soccer program.”

Gomez said there are still a lot of ways people can stay active while local parks are closed.

“The governor did say you could walk around, people can go out and exercise,” Gomez said. “And he certainly suggested that, for the time being, people stay home for these two weeks to help protect the citizens that can’t protect themselves.”

Washington residents are still encouraged to get outside and exercise in their neighborhood or community. Officials encourage those who do choose to go outdoors for their exercise to practice social distancing.