SEASIDE – The city of Seaside has posted rules regarding the use of  Cutino Park during the COVID-19 pandemic that end with a warning: “failure to comply may result in future closure.”

The city has found itself doing just that.

“The sports field at Cutino Park is temporarily closed to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Craig Malin, Seaside city manager. “People were congregating and playing sports on the field without adhering to field usage guidelines which were posted.”

The city posted to social media that the park is closed until further notice “due to the number of large gatherings and unauthorized organized activities that have taken place.”

But Alex Miller, a 20-year resident of Seaside and chair of the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Commission, disagrees with closing.

Miller said he does not understand what the city is trying to do if it is “seeing unauthorized groups, why are they not being regulated? It’s a disservice to others who use the park.”

The closure is not benefiting the residents, said Miller who lives blocks from the park and takes his 4-year-old daughter there to get out of the house, away from electronic screens and to get a little exercise. He added that the skate park is still open but does not know if that is being regulated for adherence to COVID-19 guidelines. Miller believes that parents and their children should be allowed to use the park where the city has spent upward of $3.7 million to renovate.

“I understand COVID is an important issue,” said Miller, who lost his grandmother to the disease. “This park has been open the past three months. COVID is not the issue – large groups are.”

Miller contends he has reached out to city officials but has not received a response to any of his three attempts. He believes the city has overstepped its bounds and shows a lack of management.

Miller said the city of Seaside’s “recreation director should reopen the entire park and disseminate information on how to apply for a group use permit.”

In its notice, the city of Seaside said the city has the highest number of COVID-19 cases on the Monterey Peninsula and that it needs to help keep the community safe by following the guidelines set by the state and county health officials.

Seaside, which shares its zip code with Sand City, has 4.87% of the total number of COVID-19 cases in the county and has the highest rate compared to other Monterey Peninsula cities. Marina is next with 1.61%, followed by Monterey/Del Rey Oaks with 1.22%, Pacific Grove with .41%, and Carmel with .28%, according to data from the Monterey County Health Department.

Part of the city’s “Sport Fields COVID-19 Guidelines” posted at the park state that no organized use will be allowed such as team sports games and practices, fitness classes, or any other pay to participate activity. It also prohibits congregating or gathering and says all users must depart immediately following use.

But for now the park is closed until further notice to everyone.

“The closure will be enforced by city personnel, including police,” said Malin. “Our enforcement is not focused on penalties, but on education that COVID-19 is a critical public health matter that Seaside residents must take seriously.”