FORT ERIE (March 31, 2020) Last night, the Ontario Government extended its emergency declaration to stop the spread of COVID-19. Under the new order, all outdoor recreational amenities such as sports fields and playgrounds are to be closed. This new order includes all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities, including but not limited to:
- Playgrounds
- Sports fields
- Basketball and tennis courts
- Off-leash dog parks
- Beaches
- Skateboard and BMX parks
- Picnic areas
- Outdoor community gardens
- Park shelters
- Outdoor exercise equipment
- Condo parks and gardens
- and other outdoor recreational amenities.
Green spaces in public parks, ravines, conservation areas and trails like the Friendship Trail would remain open for walkthrough access, but individuals must maintain the safe physical distance of at least two metres apart from others. Ontario’s provincial parks and conservation reserves remain closed.
Over the next couple days, Town Staff will be installing signs and restricting public access to outdoor amenities, where possible. To read more about the Town’s COVID-19 response, please visit www.forterie.ca/pages/Covid19News. To stay up-to-date with the latest advice from Niagara Region Public Health, visit www.niagararegion.ca/health/covid-19/default.aspx.