Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board ambassadors patrol parks to encourage social distancing

There have been hundreds of calls a day about crowds and the lack of social distancing at Minneapolis parks. To help encourage safe behavior, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has launched an ambassador program, utilizing employees to patrol area parks.

The patrols are intended to encourage safe behavior, but MPRB won't be fining or ticketing anyone.

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"There's been a good amount of playground calls, people playing soccer, basketball and too many people on walking paths. Those are the main types of calls we are getting," said Larry Umphrey, with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Umphrey emphasized that the parks are still open, and residents just need to practice social distancing.

The ambassadors patrol when the weather is 40 degrees or warmer. Some days, there are as many as 85 employees patrolling the parks.