Brampton set to reopen all parks -- with restrictions

Yorkregion.com
June 9, 2020
Graeme Frisque

The City of Brampton announced Monday, June 8 that it will reopen all parks starting June 11 -- but not entirely.

According to a release, the city said it will be reopening open shade and picnic shelters, benches, leash-free dog parks, White Spruce Park golf course and skate parks, excluding Chinguacousy Park. However, many other park amenities will remain closed until further notice.

City parks have been closed since mid-March.

“All playgrounds and play structures, sports fields and amenities, outdoor fitness equipment, outdoor swimming pools, splash pads/wading pools, washrooms, and drinking water systems remain closed and are off limits to the public,” read the release. “Tennis and pickleball courts, Peel Village Golf Course and Brampton Cemetery also remain open.”

The city added all parks will close at 10 p.m. and residents are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

“As an additional measure to ensure community safety, all outdoor playground and fitness equipment will be wrapped with orange plastic fencing to discourage public use while these amenities remain closed,” read the release. “Additional garbage cans will be added as amenities open, and increased inspections and garbage removal will be implemented as required.”

Physical distancing measures will remain in effect and the amount of people using the reopened elements in the parks will be strictly monitored by city staff, with fines for those violating the new rules. The city’s four leash-free dog parks will also have occupancy restrictions in place.

“Residents are reminded that as per the Ontario Government’s emergency order, social gatherings of more than five people are not permitted. A distance of at least 2.0 metres (or six feet) must be maintained at all times from anyone a resident does not live with,” the city said.

“As the weather warms up, we understand that residents will want to get out of their homes and enjoy the fresh air. We are working closely with Peel Public Health to ensure we open amenities only when it is safe to do so. The health and safety of our community remains our priority, and I am confident residents will respect the guidelines and practise physical distancing while they are out enjoying our parks,” added Mayor Patrick Brown.

Visit www.brampton.ca for more information.