On a recent Saturday afternoon, the usually quiet lawn at Barnsdall Art Park in Los Angeles resembled a bustling town square.

Couples reclined on the grass. Dogs wove through crowds. A group of friends had pizza delivered directly to the East Hollywood park. Another brought a folding table, set out appetizers and hosted a cocktail party.

Over the past year and a half, parks have become a lifeline, places to maintain some normalcy even when, like now, cases of the coronavirus are surging. More than ever, parks are where we go on dates, jog laps, watch stand-up and take our kids to meet up with their classmates.

This isn’t the first time parks have shone in a public health crisis, Sara Jensen Carr, an architecture professor at Northeastern University, told me: The initial popularization of public parks in the United States was a response to devastating epidemics.

With the growth of cities during the Industrial Revolution came outbreaks of yellow fever and cholera, largely due to mosquitoes and contaminated water sources. Yet many believed that these diseases spread through dirty air, Carr said.

That prompted a push for dedicated green space that would provide a refuge from overcrowded cities and offer clean air to breathe, she said.

“The planners and the designers were very much sort of using the language of public health to build parks,” said Carr, who recently wrote a book on how disease outbreaks influenced the design of American cities. “The really important thing too were the fact that the parks would bring mental respite to people who were very busy and working in the city.”

One of the biggest proponents of parks as a form of medicine was Frederick Law Olmsted, a landscape architect and public health officer. Olmsted, whose first child died of cholera, designed Central Park in New York as well as nearly 100 other public parks across the U.S.

Though Olmsted and others didn’t have data, they knew intuitively that parks were good for people, Carr said.

My recent visit to Barnsdall was for a friend’s birthday party that had been relocated to the park at the last minute. She had planned to host people in her apartment, but decided against it given the rising coronavirus numbers.

As the sunlight waned, we watched as more people arrived at the park to meet up with loved ones. The park that evening offered us not just safety from infection but also a sense of community, a rare combination these days.

If you read one story, make it this

Starting Aug. 20, San Francisco will bar unvaccinated people from indoor dining, bars, nightclubs, gyms, large concerts, theaters and other events held inside, my colleagues report.

The rules are similar to those recently announced for New York, except that San Francisco will require patrons to be fully vaccinated while New York requires only a minimum of one dose.

The rest of the news

California

Chaotic school reopening: As Covid-19 cases rise and state and federal guidelines change, districts are struggling to navigate the reopening of schools. Many families watching the rising infection rates are reconsidering their decisions, Capital and Main reports.

Shorter work days: Representative Mark Takano has introduced new legislation that would create a 32-hour workweek for most Americans, The Press-Enterprise reports.

New census data: With more than 39 percent of state residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino in the 2020 census, California’s Hispanic population is now the largest in the state, outstripping the state’s white population, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Increasing restaurant prices: On Wednesday, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that restaurant prices rose in July, at their steepest pace in more than 40 years, and may continue to rise. In order to stay in business and pay for higher costs, restaurateurs in Sacramento are charging more, The Sacramento Bee reports.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

A childhood shooting: At 15, Tashante McCoy-Ham was shot in the knee in a drive-by shooting in Stockton. Years later, she found out that her close friend had been involved in that shooting. The Trace reports their story.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Sidewalk carts: Sidewalk vending recently became legal in Los Angeles. But to get a health permit to legally hawk goods, sellers need a cart that fits on the sidewalk and meets a daunting set of state and local rules, The Los Angeles Times reports.

Maskless L.A.P.D.: The Los Angeles Times reports that L.A.P.D. officers have been ordered to wear masks while on the job, but more than a few cops have been caught ignoring the mandate.

Coachella restrictions: People who want to attend the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals will need to show proof of vaccination, KTLA reports.

Teacher shortage: Despite a spree of teacher hiring, L.A. schools are still struggling to fill positions before classes begin Monday. If schools were to open immediately, 479 classrooms would be staffed with substitute teachers.

What we’re eating

The garlicky, almond dressing makes this little gem salad sing.

What we’re recommending

Bright and bouncy, “On One” by Los Angeles-based singer Joyce Wrice is my song of the summer.

Where we’re traveling

Today’s California travel tip comes from Paula Martin, a reader who lives in Ukiah. Paula writes:

Montgomery Woods is a majestic redwood grove between inland Ukiah and the Mendocino coast. The grove is approximately a 2-mile hike of beauty and splendor. Getting there on a mountainous road could be a challenge for “city drivers.” Less than a mile away is Orr Hot Springs, truly a gem and one of my top 10 places in the world!

Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Please include your name and where you live, so we can share your tip in the newsletter. Email your suggestions to [email protected].

And before you go, some good news

The Smokehouse, a beloved restaurant in Berkeley, is celebrating 70 years in business.

It’s the kind of place that die-hard fans love so much that they call from other states to see if ingredients can be shipped to them, Berkeleyside reports. Yet, over the past 15 years, the price of a burger at Smokehouse has risen by just $1.

“Is it possible to make almost everyone happy, but never really change? The Smokehouse plans to find out.”

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your weekend (and your local park). I’ll be back Monday. — Soumya

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Tennis champ Naomi (5 letters).

Steven Moity and Miles McKinley contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at [email protected].

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