The City of Campbell River announces the reopening of numerous outdoor recreational facilities amid the pandemic, as health officials loosen COVID-19 restrictions across the province.
Residents will now have access to playgrounds, sports fields and outdoor volleyball courts across the city.
Not everything is opening up though, as there are no plans to open the outdoor Centennial Pool and Splash Park at this time, said the City in a release on Thursday.
“At the outdoor pool, we cannot accommodate physical distancing in the changerooms, plus maintenance and repairs were delayed due to COVID-19 and are currently ongoing there,” says Drew Hadfield, director of operations for the City of Campbell River. “The Splash Park definitely has the potential to draw more than 50 people in close proximity.”
“We’re carefully reviewing options to expand doubles tennis, which is currently limited to members of the same household, and any changes will be posted on signs at the courts, following provincial public health guidelines.”
Hadfield reminds all residents to use parks equipment, including sports courts, playgrounds and picnic tables, responsibly and in small numbers. He also says to exercise caution when touching public surfaces.
“Please continue to be careful about physical distancing, and wash hands before and after play. Use disinfectant wipes before touching public surfaces where possible,” said the director.
The Ken Forde boat ramp will only be available for small vessels that don’t require a trailer, such as canoes and kayaks. Larger vessels that require a trailer are not permitted.
The City says the pandemic disrupted the use of City resources for seasonal gravel removal as permitted by the federal Department of Fisheries, and funding for ramp maintenance and clearing was reduced as part of cost-saving measures to offset revenue losses caused by COVID-19 closures.
“We thank people for their patience with other boaters if the remaining launches at Big Rock and Discovery Harbour are extra busy this year,” says Hadfield. “The Ken Forde location is a challenge to maintain due to the southeast exposure, and City crews will work with available resources to remove logs as much as possible to provide access for people launching small watercraft without trailers.”
Campbell River’s Sportsplex and Community Centre currently remain closed at this time.
“We’re actively planning how and when we might be able to resume offering some indoor recreation opportunities, and use would be based on guidelines and industry standards developed by the B.C. Recreation and Parks Association, the Provincial Health Officer and Worksafe BC,” says city manager Deborah Sargent. “We know people are very anxious to expand their activities, and our top priority is to ensure the safe use of City facilities and amenities.”
On May 22, the City announced it was opening most park amenities, including sports courts and outdoor washrooms that had been closed or restricted due to the risk of COVID-19.
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