Campgrounds are only accepting permanent residents for time being
If Niagara campgrounds choose to open this summer, current rules state they are only permitted to accept people who don’t have another residence in the country.
Trailers must have washroom facilities, electricity and running water, according to the province’s emergency order.
Campgrounds are to exclude trailers not equipped with these facilities — or campers using tents and other structures — until further notice, says Niagara Region public health’s website.
For people camping with trailers that are self-contained, the park they set up in must take a number of measures.
These include ensuring common washrooms are closed and locked at all times and roping off playgrounds, pools and other areas that people may gather in.
Trailers should be “spaced apart as much as possible,” and signage needs to be placed around facilities to urge tenants to follow rules about physical distancing and curbing the spread of COVID-19, says public health.
Parks should “consider not renting cabins under current conditions,” but if rented, the entire cabin must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
At Bissell’s Hideaway Resort in Pelham, there are about four units currently housing people, says owner Ed
Miklavcic.
Three are snowbirds and the fourth is a Hydro One employee from out of the region who is working locally, providing an essential service.
The park is planning to open May 15 — depending on what is contained in the next steps the provincial government is expected to announce on May 12 about the state of emergency in place, he said.
“If the 15th doesn’t happen, we’re going two weeks after that,” he said Sunday.
He hopes seasonal campers who have the proper equipment and who don’t consider the park a permanent abode will eventually be able to visit.
He expects the site’s water park “won’t be a go” this summer — a major draw for families who choose to spend time at the Pelham park.
This will have a large financial impact on revenue, Miklavcic estimates.
“We’d be happy to make 50 per cent if the water park is not open,” he says.
“A lot of families won’t bother to come out if they don’t have that,” he adds.
But the season doesn’t really start to pick up until June.
“We still have time where things could get worked out,” says Miklavcic.
Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin says Niagara Regional Police will be provided a list of permanent residents at parks in his town, and bylaw staff will