Go fly a kite: Aurora permits limited use of parks during coronavirus crisis
Sports fields, use of park amenities remains banned
Yorkregion.com
May 11, 2020
Lisa Queen
Want to go fly a kite or let your kids run around?
You now can in Aurora, with the town announcing it is permitting limited use of parks.
Residents can now use open spaces in parks but playgrounds, sports fields and courts, skateboard parks, washrooms, benches, picnic tables, shelters and off-leash dog areas remain off-limits.
“By allowing our residents to use our open park spaces, we are providing much needed access to families of the same household to spend time outdoors,” Mayor Tom Mrakas said in a statement.
“This will aid in the health and well-being of our community and give residents a chance to participate in some limited outdoor activities. This health pandemic is not over, we still need to flatten the COVID-19 curve and practice safe physical distancing, washing our hands often and following the provincial orders. Aurora will fully reopen its parks and facilities once it is safe to do so. Our number one priority is the safety of our residents, visitors and community.”
Under provincial orders, there is a still a ban on organized public events and gatherings of more than five people, which includes gatherings on private property but allows for more than five people of the same household being together.
Residents must continue to physically distance at least six feet from non-household members.
Examples of permitted activities for individuals from the same household in an open park space include:
- Playing catch or kicking a soccer ball
- Flying a kite
- Exercising and stretching on a yoga mat but not in a class
- Letting young children run around.
Organized sporting and training activities such as football, softball, ball hockey, soccer, frisbee and basketball, are still banned as they don’t allow for proper physical distancing.
School board open spaces and Sheppard’s Bush, which is run by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, remain closed.
For more information, visit aurora.ca/covid19. For updates on the status of the COVID-19 virus in York Region, visit york.ca/covid19.
