Reopening green spaces is overdue
As the natural world around us returns to life, it’s great to see Ontarians being allowed to return to the natural world.
An unfortunate and, in many cases unnecessary, government reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic closed off much of the great outdoors to the people of this province — just when they needed it most.
Everywhere you looked — or tried to go — trails, forests, beaches and access to waterways were either off-limits to the public or had severe restrictions imposed on how they could be used.
Often the rules were arbitrary, nonsensical or inconsistent from place to place. And while protecting public health was always cited as the excuse for these extreme measures, it’s undeniable that barring people from Ontario’s green spaces was bad for their mental health. They were struggling to cope with the COVID-19 emergency, for goodness sake.
That’s why we say thanks to Premier Doug Ford for easing restrictions on what people can do outdoors as part of Stage 1 of Ontario’s reopening. It’s not just timely. It’s about time.
As of this weekend, golf courses, marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches will be back open for public use, though some restrictions will still apply. Private parks and campgrounds will allow those with seasonal contracts to come in and prepare for summer. Businesses that board animals, such as stables, will let boarders visit, care for or ride their animals.
Given that the premier had previously reopened provincial parks for day use, people craving to get outside will have more opportunities than they’ve had for the past two months.
These are all changes that The Record has called for since late April.
We’ve argued that access to green spaces is a fundamental need, if not fundamental right, in our society. They’re the places we turn to not just for physical exercise and recreation but mental relaxation and renewal.
The urge to get outdoors became especially acute as Ontarians were ordered to self-isolate, work at home if possible and keep at least two metres from everyone they met the instant they ventured out.
It seemed strange to us that people were trusted to shop safely at a grocery or liquor store but not walk a forest trail.
We doubted someone putting a kayak into a stream was increasing other people’s risk of catching COVID-19. Stopping that recreational activity seemed plain silly.
Nor did it make sense that you could fish some sections of the Grand River but not others, or walk some footpaths in Waterloo Region while encountering trail-closed signs elsewhere.
Even with so much reopening, so much of the outdoors — including federally operated parks such as the spectacular Bruce Peninsula National Park — remains off-limits. That shouldn’t continue any longer.
While we have something extra to celebrate this Victoria Day long weekend, we impatiently wait for more outdoor areas to reopen. If we’re learned anything from this pandemic, it’s how much the natural world enriches our lives and how we should value it as never before.
As we plan future urban growth, for instance, we hope municipal leaders treat forests and waterways as a critical infrastructure worth preserving.
Finally, when the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, we expect our federal, provincial and municipal governments will critically review the emergency closures and restrictions they placed on the outdoors.
A lot of mistakes were made. If a similar public health crisis hits this nation again, we deserve a smarter plan for, and greater access to, the country’s priceless green spaces.