Parks, recreational facilities off limits to public
The Yarmouth lighthouse in Cape Forchu has long been a place that people visit to relax, enjoy the outdoors and scenery and escape the stresses of life.
But the property is now on a long list of places the public can no longer visit following the implementation a provincial state of emergency as stricter measures come into play to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On March 22 the Nova Scotia government declared the province is in a state of emergency. Included with that was a declaration from Chuck Porter, minister of municipal affairs and housing, from section 14 of the Emergency Management Act, that said effective at noon on Sunday, March 22, all provincial and municipal parks and beaches are closed to everyone and travel into these parks and beaches is strictly prohibited.
On Monday the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, in compliance with Porter’s declaration of a state of emergency, issued a media release listing its closed recreation and park facilities.
This includes the Cape Forchu lighthouse and
Leif Erikson Trail and the Hebron Rotary Recreation Complex (all ballfields and tennis courts, Forchu River Trail, playground, green gym equipment and Rotary Community Centre) the municipality says. Also included is the Maple Grove Education Centre sports field, Janet Smith sports field and clubhouse, Tkipok Trail in Arcadia, Overton ball field and municipal trails.
“We ask all our residents to respect and comply with the order,” a media release states.
In announcing its state of emergency on Sunday, the province said it was keeping provincial trails open so that people can exercise but said that gathering limits and social distancing guidelines must be followed. The province has said gatherings of more than five people are not allowed.
Asked about the fact municipal trails are included with the municipality’s closure list, CAO Victoria Brooks said Monday: “The trails we mention are municipal and are included to help provide clarity to our residents.”
The municipality reminds people that any person found in violation of the order may be subject to the fines as stipulated. Those can be $1,000 for individuals.
The RCMP has been given the authority to enforce the rules.
Municipal units throughout the tri-counties have been posting lists of closures in their respective areas. On
Monday morning, prior to this newspaper’s press deadline, the Town of Yarmouth issued a media release explaining that it is closing all parks, playgrounds, sports fields/courts and trails that are under ownership of the Town of Yarmouth until further notice.
The list of parks now closed to the public include: Goudey Park, Doug Melanson Park, Yarmouth Dog Park, Coronation Park, the Skate Park and South Park Playground, Sprucewood Playground, Havelock Playground, Beacon Park and Playground, Frost Park, Heritage Park, Sealed Landers Park and Rotary Park.
“Maud Lewis Trail has been deemed to be part town of Yarmouth traffic infrastructure (streets and sidewalks) and will be kept open for the time being,” the town said.
Recreation facilities that the public can no longer access include the Broadbrook Recreation Park (Veterans Field, Mariners Field, & Travelers Field and also the Broadbrook Trail), Gateway Park (Gateway Ballfield, track and St. Ambrose field); St. Ambrose tennis courts; Coronation Park (Milton ballfield), Meadowfields soccer field; Play On ball hockey arena pad at Mariners Centre; Yarmouth South courts behind the old South Centennial school and Central School basketball courts and field.
“At this time the Department of Natural Resources has indicated that the closure order does not apply to railway trails. Therefore, rail trails within the Town of Yarmouth are still open but we ask that people please practice physical distancing and adhere to the rules outlined by the government in this state of emergency,” a March 23 town media release reads.
“Although we all had hoped to keep our parks open to provides spaces for exercise and to help with feelings of social isolation during this period of isolation, the fact is that many are not taking the requirements around social distancing seriously enough. As a result, these steps have to be taken,” the town’s release adds.
“Thank you everyone for your cooperation and extraordinary patience,” the release reads. “These measures are challenging for all of us, but they are necessary to get us through this safely and quickly.”
There are 11 municipal units within the coverage area of this newspaper. Check their Facebook pages and websites for information about their closures and also updated information about COVID-19.