British Columbia is officially in phase two of its restart plan, and more and more venues are opening up, including numerous Saanich outdoor recreational facilities.
Starting Thursday, Saanich is reopening 35 tennis courts, 11 pickleball courts, 21 sports courts, such as basketball and street hockey, and the Lambrick Skate Park.
“Outdoor recreation is an important part of the fabric of our community,” said Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes. “I’m delighted we have reached a point where we can reopen these facilities with guidelines that address safety precautions for the public and our staff. Safety is our number one priority now and into the future.”
Public washrooms with running water are open, with enhanced cleaning protocols, but portable toilets will not be reinstalled
All playgrounds will remain closed until further notice.
Saanich has released new guidelines for all visitors to follow when using an outdoor recreational facility, listed below.
- practice physical distancing by keeping at least two metres (six feet) away from people from other households
- wash your hands thoroughly and frequently and use your own hand sanitizer
- avoid touching your face
- cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue
- limit use at busy times and don’t create a crowd
- don’t share equipment, water bottles or snacks
- stay home if you’re feeling unwell
“Saanich thanks residents for their patience and understanding during our unexpected closure of these facilities and for following the provincial health officer’s orders and recommendations to stay safe and healthy,” said the district in the announcement on their website.
Saanich is following suit of other districts regarding its outdoor facilities, as the City of Victoria announced the reopeing of some of their outdoor recreational facilities a week prior.
Various Provincial Parks have also opened up for day use, as the weather gets warmer and COVID-19 restrictions are loosened.
Saanich Parks previously closed its outdoor public recreation facilities on March 23 to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Rebecca Lawrence
