City reopens playgrounds, parks
Workers will not be sanitizing equipment, spokesman says
Edmontonians will be able to use playgrounds, outdoor courts and skate parks Friday for the first time in two months as the city begins lifting COVID -19 restrictions.
Signs will be posted at the sites to warn visitors that they must follow public health guidelines outlined by the province, including maintaining two metres of physical distance from others, gathering in groups of 50 or fewer, and only sharing common equipment with members of the same family or cohort.
The city will not be sanitizing the equipment at the approximately 850 playgrounds and outdoor fitness parks, interim city manager Adam Laughlin said Thursday.
Users are expected to wash or sanitize their hands before and after use, and people who are sick are asked to stay home.
“We expect Edmontonians to enjoy these spaces safely by practising Alberta Health requirements: physical distancing, enhanced hygiene and sanitization, and the size of the group that is permitted,” he said.
The reopening of the outdoor sites, which have been closed since March 24 because of the pandemic, comes a week after Alberta’s relaunch plan went into effect and the outdoor gathering limit was increased to 50 people.
Some basketball and disc golf courses will reopen immediately, while other sites such as tennis, badminton and volleyball courts will take longer to reopen and set up the nets.
Recommendations from Alberta Health say individuals will have to bring their own equipment.
“No team sports, no team activities,” Laughlin said. “Then it’s really around if you’re playing the sport with your family or your cohort and you’re using your own equipment, you’re fine, provided you’re respecting the other restrictions that are in place by the province.”
Laughlin noted it will take time to remove the various signs and barriers that are currently posted at playgrounds. Eleven outdoor skate parks will open as soon as city staff can take the various barriers down.
“I do want to flag that they do pose a challenge related to physical distancing and if patrons do not adhere to the public health requirements we will take the step to reclose them,” Laughlin said.
Visitors are being asked to use only the playgrounds in their neighbourhoods to help encourage physical distancing. If social distancing and group-size limits are not followed at a playground, a capacity limit will be posted at the identified location, Laughlin said.
The city plans on releasing a guidebook to help people understand the new rules soon.
This stage of reopening does not include league organized play, open-space picnic booking, drinking fountains, or the city’s splash parks.
In addition to the reopening of playgrounds and outdoor sites, the city announced expected timelines for other facilities.
The city’s Animal Care and Control Centre, which has been open during the pandemic for urgent situations, will take in healthy dogs as of May 25. Healthy cats will be part of phase two of the centre’s relaunch.
To deal with an increase in parking
If you’re playing the sport with your family or your cohort and you’re using your own equipment, you’re fine.
congestion, the city will be reinstating paid parking on June 8. The cleaning of the epark machines will be increased to twice a day.
The Edmonton Valley Zoo is slated to reopen on June 15. The zoo will accept a limit of 90 people every 30 minutes. Tickets will only be sold online and visitors will be encouraged to wear masks.