The Town of Sidney has announced that municipal playgrounds will begin reopening as of Monday, June 8.
Playgrounds have been closed off to the public since March 20 as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to a press release from Sidney, they will be taking a phased approach to reopening their recreational facilities and not opening everything all in one go.
Sidney will begin with opening the playgrounds at Tulista Park and Iroquois Park on Monday. The press release suggests that other playground openings will follow in the coming days, once maintenance and safety inspections are completed.
The public is able to track the status of each municipal playground on Sidney’s Parks and Pathways webpage.
Although Iroquois Park is opening on Monday, one element will remain closed until further notice. The Town said it is continuing to work on developing safe, functional plans for the Water Spray Park in Iroquois Park to reopen.
The Community Wellness Park that features exercise equipment is another facility that will remain closed as further planning ensues.
According to Sidney, playground equipment and other park surfaces are not being sanitized and they are leaving it up to parents and guardians to make an informed decision before allowing their children to use the facilities. In correlation with the non-sanitization of equipment, the Town of Sidney is recommending anyone visiting a municipal playground to bring their own hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes.
Sidney has also outlined new guidelines for playground use:
* Do not use or visit the playgrounds if you are sick;
* Wash or sanitize your hands thoroughly and frequently;
* Keep at least two metres away from people from other households;
* Limit use at busy times to avoid overcrowding.
Public washroom facilities will be available at both Iroquois Park and Tulista Park for handwashing before and after use of the playgrounds, said the Sidney press release.
CHEK News
