North Sydney beach open.

North Sydney beach open but some amenities remain closed

NORTH SYDNEY — Although the effects of a global pandemic will keep organized events from being staged this summer at a popular beachfront, it will allow time for municipal workers to repair damages from storm surges.

“The beach, playground and ball field are still open to the public for use but please keep in mind there will be no washroom facilities at this point in time,” said District 2 Coun. Earlene Macmullin, whose district includes Indian Beach.

The beach area has long hosted a number of public events including nightly music sessions. The site has undergone extensive upgrades over the years that included the purchase of specially equipped wheelchairs to better allow those with mobility concerns to also enjoy a day at the beach.

Both the municipality and the community-based volunteers that organized a number of events at the site have concluded it was simply not possible to continue hosting events while managing the strict guidelines in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Macmullin said concerns over liability – in trying to keep people safe and follow provincial health guidelines – are too great a responsibility for community volunteers to assume.

Since March, the province has been under a state of emergency and has implemented a series of restrictions including limiting the size of public gatherings along with social distancing requirements.

“We are unable to open the washrooms unless we are able to regularly have someone go in and sanitize them,” said Macmullin, adding other municipal recreational sites have also been forced to close such amenities.

The beach canteen will also be closed this year.

She said municipal crews will proceed this summer with making repairs to damage on the property caused during recent storms including moving one building back to its original location after being moved as a result of storm surge.

“Everything else is still open, the beach, the playground, the benches and the ball field so everyone can still come for a picnic, walk the dog or search for beach glass,” said Macmullin.

CAPE BRETON POST PHOTO While a popular beach front in North Sydney, Indian Beach, will be opened this year, the site will not be hosting its usually fair of public events. Restrictions still in place to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus have given cause for the volunteer committee that organized events to put plans on pause for this year.