The City of Greater Geelong is encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy COVID-safe outdoor picnics and gatherings at Customs Park, near the Geelong Waterfront.
City staff have marked the 800 square metre grassed area with 'picnic circles' spaced two metres apart, allowing individuals or small groups to pick their own patch and enjoy lunch or a social get together with friends or family.
The picnic circles will help community members maintain safe physical distancing in line with the Victorian Government's 'Third Step' restrictions for regional Victoria, protecting Greater Geelong's very low active COVID-19 case numbers.
The initiative is part of the City's efforts to encourage the community to 'embrace the space' and find activities that can be safely enjoyed in the region's many beautiful outdoor locations, including the waterfront, beaches, parks and open space reserves.
It has been used successfully in US cities including New York and San Francisco.
It's hoped the picnic circles will also encourage residents and visitors to support the hospitality venues surrounding Customs Park by buying takeaway food or drink.
Neighbouring restaurant Sailors Rest has immediately embraced the concept, introducing takeaway cheese boxes to its menu.
City of Greater Geelong CEO Martin Cutter:
This is a quick, inexpensive and creative idea to help protect the health of the community while they're enjoying themselves in a beautiful outdoor space.It will give people using Customs Park an easy guide to help them observe physical distancing requirements.
If successful at this location, the idea has the potential to be used in other areas of Greater Geelong, particularly once visitors from metropolitan Melbourne eventually return and our open spaces become more crowded.
*From noon 22 September until 6pm 24 October the City of Greater Geelong will operate in accordance with the policies and procedures that govern the Council Election period. This means that all publications, including media release and statements will be issued for business as usual activities only and the Chief Executive Officer will be the City's primary spokesperson.
