COVID-19 Update: City Reopening Some Outdoor Recreational Amenities on Long Weekend

  As we head into the long weekend, and the Province allows for the reopening of some outdoor recreational amenities, residents are reminded of the importance of continuing to follow safe practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We are lucky to live in a community that offers so many outdoor opportunities for us to enjoy, especially with this beautiful weather,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “As we head into the long weekend, these reopenings come as welcome news, but please don’t forget that COVID-19 is still a threat to our community. Provincial orders remain in effect, so let’s all continue to make safe, smart choices so we don’t undo all of our hard work.”

“I am so happy to see our community vaccination rollout gain momentum,” continued Mayor Bigger. “The more people who get vaccinated, the closer we are to being with our friends and loved ones, and doing the things we love and miss. Better days are ahead. Protect yourself and others by getting vaccinated.”

The following municipal outdoor amenities will be allowed to reopen, with restrictions in place, effective 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 22:
• Baseball diamonds, basketball courts and sports fields. League play, training and scrimmages are not permitted.
• Tennis and pickleball courts. To ensure physical distancing, doubles play is not permitted.
• Skate and BMX parks
• Selkirk disc golf facility

As of May 22, the permitted size for an outdoor gathering increases to five people. Physical distancing rules remain in effect and residents must stay two metres away from people who are not part of their household. A mask or face covering is recommended when physical distancing is a challenge.

Reopening of these facilities will be done over several days, as City staff inspect and ensure safety of sites, remove barriers, replace signage and place garbage containers. Benches, waste bins, gates, handrails and other surfaces are not sanitized.

Reminders about other outdoor recreational amenities
• Staff are inspecting and preparing splash pads to open June 1.
• Municipal boat launches are open.
• Municipal campgrounds at Centennial Park, Ella Lake Campground and Whitewater Lake Trailer Park are open to seasonal renters only, beginning this Saturday. Campers will be contacted to make arrangements.
• Playgrounds, off-leash dog parks, the Bell Park Boardwalk and other trails and open spaces are open.
• Lifeguard supervision at municipal beaches normally begins mid-June. More information will be provided closer to that time, based on provincial guidelines.
• Golf courses are allowed to open as of May 22.

Victoria Day
Holiday schedules will apply to the following municipal services on Monday, May 24, 2021:
• Roadside collection of household waste and recycling are unaffected by the holiday. Landfills will be closed.
• The Recycling Centre and Household Hazardous Waste Depot are closed while the city remains under the provincial Stay-at-Home Order. Residents may make an appointment with the Toxic Taxi to receive free home pickup of household hazardous waste.
• GOVA Transit will follow holiday routes and schedules. Passengers must wear a mask while riding public transit.
• Library curbside pickup will not be available.
• Appointments at Tom Davies Square will not be available.
• Animal Shelter appointments will not be available.
• 311 and Live Web Chat (311.greatersudbury.ca) will not be available. Call 311 for urgent public works, animal control or COVID-19 enforcement services. Register to submit service requests any time on the Customer Service Portal at 311.greatersudbury.ca or email 311@greatersudbury.ca.

Other Reminders
• The province-wide state of emergency and stay-at-home order remain in effect until at least June 2. Visit www.greatersudbury.ca/covid for a reminder on how this affects other municipal services and facilities.
• The Province has released its “Roadmap to Reopen”, a three-step plan to safely and gradually ease public health measures and reopen the province once the stay-at-home order ends. To read more, visit https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1000159/roadmap-to-reopen.
• As of May 22, the permitted size for an outdoor gathering increases to five people. Indoor organized events and social gatherings are not permitted, except with members of the same household. Families should not visit any other household or allow visitors in their homes. Those who live alone can have close contact with only one other household.
• Trips outside of the home should only be for essential reasons (work, groceries/pharmacy, health care, assisting vulnerable individuals or exercise and physical activity).
• Residents must wear a mask or face covering inside businesses or organizations. A mask or face covering is also recommended outdoors when physical distancing is a challenge.
• City By-Law Officers and contracted security will patrol the use of municipal spaces, and signage will be in place to remind users of rules.
• Travel outside the Greater Sudbury area should be for essential purposes only. Effective Monday, April 19, checkpoints are set up at interprovincial border to restrict land travel out of province to essential travel only.
• Continue to follow basic but important measures to prevent the spread of illness. Wash your hands often, wear a mask or face covering, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve and stay home if you feel sick.

Important Information about 311
In order to allow Public Health Sudbury & Districts to focus their efforts on COVID-19 contact-tracing, health-related inquiries and vaccine planning and implementation, residents are encouraged to contact 311 by phone or Live Web Chat (311.greatersudbury.ca) for:
• People not self-isolating after international travel.
• Organized events and social gatherings that exceed what’s permitted by the Province.
• Questions about provincial rules and regulations or effects on City programs and services.
• Public use of closed municipal facilities.
• Complaints about non-compliance of businesses or services, as mandated under the Grey – Lockdown category

The enforcement of COVID-19 legislation is a joint initiative by City By-law Officers, Public Health Sudbury & Districts and the Greater Sudbury Police Service. 311 representatives will log your complaint, and direct it to the appropriate party based on time of day, and severity and type of issue.

For COVID-19 updates and information related to City services, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/covid or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

For the most up-to-date local information on COVID-19, visit the Public Health Sudbury & Districts website at www.phsd.ca/coronavirus.