City of Tupelo removes hoops to promote social distancing

Local residents angry about crowds at one city park

New cases and deaths in the united states, health officials are asking you to do your part and follow cdc guidelines.

One of those guidelines involves social distancing, which basically means keeping at least 6 feet away from anyone.

However, the city of tupelo is having a problem with folks wanting to keep away from each other at local parks.

Right now, the city has removed all of the basketball hoops at the park on front street.

Wayne hereford looks at why the mayors and others are saying enough is enough.

Standup.."workers with the tupelo parks and recreation department were busy today placing covers on basketball rims like these here in the mill creek area in tupelo."

When they are done the hoops were covered with a plastic bag and taped.

But that's nothing compared to what happened at front street where the hoops have been removed totally.

This video sent to us by a local resident tells the story why.

Crowds of people gathered at the park around the courts.

Not a good idea says the mayor for a city that is on lock-down and urging residents practice social distancing.

"well, we understand that kids want to be kids.

And everybody wants to get out and enjoy a pretty day but sometimes you have to protect kids from themselves and people from themselves."

"unfortunately there's still a lot of congreation on our parks on our goals.

So we're trying to make our parks as safe as possible."

The mayor says that some residents were so angry about the situation that they were calling for the people at the park to be arrested.

But he says that won't be necessary.

".we've got to take this serious as a community, at the same time we're not going to be out arresting people."