Sandy Springs lifts restrictions for outdoor events starting with concert series this month

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — With COVID-19 restrictions lifting in Georgia, the city of Sandy Springs announced its own plans to reopen its outdoor concert space.

The city council voted to allow the City Green Live concerts to begin this month and run through April.

The council considered three options before it voted on free lawn seating and ticketed tables for the concerts.

[READ: Gov. Kemp loosens COVID-19 restrictions in Georgia; businesses and consumers react]

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington spoke with residents in Sandy Springs about the city lifting restrictions.

Ufre Eduok and his son come to the City Green every week. But he said he plans to stay away when the City Green reopens its lawn space for concerts this season.

“People have been eager to leave their homes and resume back to a normal life,” he said. “I’m going to wait it out until we can see the numbers go down a little bit more.”

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Emily Borna and her son said they will attend concerts on the City Green but keep a safe distance from other people.

“You have to find a comfort level if you’re going to put yourself in that circumstance,” she said. “Have family units together and to have spaces even marked in the green, so people can distance and people should still wear masks.”

[SPECIAL SECTION: COVID-19 vaccines in Georgia]

City officials will keep up signs in the area that read “stay safe to stay open and encourage people to follow CDC safety guidelines.

The changes follow Gov. Brian Kemp’s executive order that lifted COVID-19 restrictions starting last week. Restaurants and bars are allowed to return to full capacity.

The ban on gatherings of more than 50 people also ends under the order.

“It’s encouraging that we’re getting back to the point where we can do some things,” Borna said.

Eduok said he thinks the restriction rollbacks are happening too soon.

“People should still be safe and do what they can to boost their immune systems.”