Trail Foundation: Stay home

The Trail Foundation reiterated county and city orders urging Austinites to stay in until April 13. Though the shelter-in-place orders that went into effect today allow for outdoor exercise, they caution people to stay 6 feet away from others. “According to our Trail counters, usage on the Trail has not decreased in the past two weeks,” Trail Foundation CEO Heidi Anderson said in a statement to the press. “And as local media has reported and we’ve observed, many people are not practicing social distancing and other critical steps to avoid spreading the coronavirus. … Our message to those who love the Trail is this: It will be there for us when this season passes. Now is the time to let the Trail rest while we do. We need to do our part, stay home, take care of ourselves and our families, and also the larger community.” Though the Trail Foundation does not have the authority to close the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, it urged Austinites to “stay in and exercise as close to your own home as possible” in an effort to reduce social interaction by 90 percent, which is a stated goal of Mayor Steve Adler. For those who do go ahead and use the trail, the foundation asks people to step aside to allow for safe passage and to frequently wash hands. While trails and parks remain open for use by the public, exercise equipment and public playgrounds are closed.