After the winter we’ve just had, today feels like an absolute scorcher (it’s already cresting above 20 degrees this Friday sunny morning). Plus, the wind isn’t doing that thing where it goes gale force as soon as we get a nice day.

That, combined with this week’s easing of Covid-19 rules, which allows up to five people from two households to gather outdoors, means group chats are lighting up all over town with plans for hitting the park.

To remind people to picnic responsibly (yes, that’s where we’re at), overnight, Melbourne City Council has painted white physical distancing circles at four of its biggest – and most popular – parks.

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Stonnington Council – which governs South Yarra, Toorak, Prahran and more – adopted similar measures earlier in the week, inspired by a similar initiative in New York in July.

So, if you’re headed to Princes Park, Flagstaff Gardens, Kings Domain South or Buluk Park this afternoon, keep an eye out for the circles, spaced two metres apart from one another.

It’s also worth noting, the circles aren’t compulsory to sit in – they’re just a simple reminder not go overboard on the getting-close-to-strangers front.

“The physical distancing circles will help ensure that people enjoying our parks remain at least 1.5 metres apart,” City of Melbourne CEO Justin Hanney said in a statement. “The circles are a meant to act as a visual reminder for people to use parks safely by practicing physical distancing.”

“Use parks safely.” What a time to be alive.