One week after Tay council decided to enforce the closure of a popular public boat launch due to “excessive recreational use” comes the Ford government’s decision to reopen outdoor recreational amenities across the province on Saturday.
“Given yesterday’s announcement by the province -- we’re in the yo-yo of COVID -- we will be meeting today to discuss the status of the boat launch,” Tay Township general manager Daryl O’Shea said Friday.
“We’ll be meeting with the emergency control group, including the mayor, in determining whether or not that new change from the province will lead us to change the status of our boat launch.”
Thursday’s press conference by Premiere Doug Ford detailed the province’s Roadmap to Reopen on Saturday, which aims to open up restricted outdoor recreational amenities over the next few weeks.
The public boat launch on Albert Street in Victoria Harbour closed to recreational use on April 8, as directed by the rules and guidelines outlined in the provincial stay-at-home order. Signs were then posted in the area indicating it was only to be used by non-recreational boaters (ie going to a cottage you own).
Tay municipal law enforcement officer Justin Rounds shared council’s May 13 decision to shut down the launch completely on May 17.
“After observing excessive recreational use, in contravention of provincial regulations and the stay-at-home order, the township had little choice but to close the boat launch to all users.
“The township has not focused its efforts on maintaining or enforcing social distancing at this location,” Rounds added, estimating on a nice summer day roughly 50 people could use the launch.
“It’s pretty busy there. As far as I know, it’s one of the only free boat launches in the area where you don’t have to pay to park,” Rounds said in a phone conversation with MidlandToday, admitting that municipal enforcement in Tay is focused more on parking by-laws than health guideline compliance.
“Some people have gone out and bought new toys and want to use them, and other people are trying to comply and they’re not going to be going out recreationally so they stay away.”
Concerns raised by townsfolk are more about the availability of trailer parking in the area than anything else.
In response, the areas of 110 and 145 Albert Street include resident-only parking for vehicles with trailers after hearing of the need for the launch to be more accessible to Tay residents and property owners.
According to Rounds, free permits for all residents and property owners will be available once the stay-at-home order is lifted.
