St. Paul Reporter

As officials enforce a shut-down of St. Paul-area playgrounds, other venues like garden centers can remain open with the state's approval, according to Kare 11 News. 

This move came as a response to the concern expressed by lawmakers regarding the extension of the lockdown. 

“I do not approve of the governor’s unilateral decision to continue the order to shelter at home until May 4. We have to get on with our lives,” Sen. Paul Gazelka said in a release by the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus.

Many lawmakers believe that it is time to open up Minnesota to avoid financial troubles, despite the grave warnings by health officials.

Gov. Tim Walz has decided to extend the lockdown but has increased the number of businesses that can remain open during the lockdown marking them as "essential businesses." So, to ensure public safety playgrounds, basketball grounds, tennis courts and other athletic facilities will remain closed during the lockdown which has been extended until May 4. 

St. Paul’s Parks and Recreation Department released a statement following the orders of Walz, saying that all public gathering areas, as well as athletic courts, will be closed until further orders.

Only essential businesses will remain open during this period, including grocery shops, food take-out, delivery facilities, pharmacies, nonprofit organizations and so on. Recently, Walz added garden centers to this list as well.  

All garden centers in Minnesota are now termed as essential businesses. A number of retailers like the Bachman’s have decided to be open for business as soon as the orders came in, while others have decided to plan out their safety measures carefully before opening their facilities.

“We are ready to be back. We have decided to limit the number of customers allowed to be inside the shop at a given time and have stopped taking cash along other safety measures," Marketing Director Karen Bachman said to KARE News.

Sunnyside Minneapolis along with other garden centers, however, has decided to start operations after April 10, so that all the safety rules have been clearly laid out beforehand.