NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF ORILLIA
***********************
Following the province’s announcement that the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit area is permitted to enter into Stage 2 of reopening, the City of Orillia is working diligently to reopen beaches and select park washrooms for public access starting June 12.
“The City of Orillia is pleased to open Couchiching Beach and Moose Beach to the public as of this Friday. We know that having our beaches closed has been tough for residents as temperatures continue to rise. I’d like to thank Orillia residents for their patience and commitment to following COVID-19 safety protocols in our community,” said Mayor Steve Clarke.
“Although we are reopening select park amenities, we remind all park users that it is absolutely critical that they continue to practice physical distancing and adhere to revised gathering restrictions. We will have municipal by-law enforcement officers monitoring our parks.”
The following park amenities will be open to public access beginning Friday, June 12, 2020
Beaches:
- Couchiching Beach, located at Couchiching Beach Park
- Moose Beach, located at J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park
Washrooms:
- Couchiching Beach washroom building, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Moose Beach washroom building (limited stalls), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Park users must practice physical distancing of at least two metres (six feet) with anyone outside of their household and refrain from gatherings of more than 10 starting Friday.
Although the beaches will be open to public access, buoy lines have not been installed and lifeguards will not be on duty until their regularly scheduled start date.
The beaches will be guarded daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning June 26 until Labour Day. Park washrooms will have physical distancing measures in place and enhanced cleaning protocols. Other washrooms within the park system will be reopened in a phased approach with the majority expected to be open by June 27.
For the 2020 summer season, the Moose Beach splash pad located at J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park will be the only splash pad open in Orillia. This is due in part to the extensive health and safety protocols outlined by the Lifesaving Society for splash pads to operate in a safe manner during COVID-19.
The Moose Beach splash pad is the only splash pad that has Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) and additional chlorine disinfection. The site also allows for physical distancing required, along with a controlled entry and exit point. The Moose Beach splash pad is anticipated to open later this month, following a required inspection from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
The following restrictions remain in effect:
- Outdoor playgrounds, play structures and equipment remain closed until further notice.
- The Kiwanis Skateboard Park is still limited to five (5) users at one time at the park.
- Baseball diamonds and athletic fields remain closed until July 5, 2020.
- No garage/yard sales until July 5, 2020.
- All local events must be postponed or cancelled until Aug. 31, 2020.
“There is still a lot of work to be done as we ease into Stage 2 of the reopening, so we ask for your patience," said Clarke. "As you can appreciate, opening things back up isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. Like many of the businesses in our community, the City has made necessary adjustments to our staffing and operations in response to COVID-19.
"As we ramp things back up, time is required to put in place the necessary health and safety precautions to keep our staff and the community safe,” said Mayor Clarke.
It’s important to remember the following:
- Stay home and away from others when you are feeling ill
- Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based sanitizer
- Keep a physical distance of two metres when outside your house
- Wear a face covering where physical distancing is a challenge or not possible
- Avoid touching your face and cover your face when coughing or sneezing
For more information visit: orillia.ca/COVID-19
For more information on the COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Orillia visit: osmh.on.ca/covid-19/
For COVID-19 updates from the SMDHU visit: http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Promos/Novel-Coronavirus
