The District of Saanich has announced the reopening of multiple outdoor recreation facilities in the region, after the City of Victoria made a similar move last week.
The following facilities will reopen for public use on Thursday, May 21:
- 35 tennis courts
- 11 pickleball courts
- 21 sports courts (e.g., basketball and street hockey)
- the Lambrick Skate Park
“Outdoor recreation is an important part of the fabric of our community,” said Mayor Fred Haynes.
“I’m delighted we have reached a point where we can reopen these facilities with guidelines that address safety precautions for the public and our staff. Safety is our number one priority now and into the future.”
Like in Victoria, all playgrounds in Saanich will be closed until further notice as they constitute high tough surfaces.
Public washrooms are open for use and have more frequent cleaning protocols in place, but portable toilets will not be reinstalled yet.
Outdoor public recreation facilities in Saanich were closed to the public for nearly two months due to enhanced transmission risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents who use the newly reopened facilities are asked to follow these guidelines:
- practice physical distancing by keeping at least two metres (six feet) away from people from other households
- wash your hands thoroughly and frequently and use your own hand sanitizer
- avoid touching your face
- cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue
- limit use at busy times and don’t create a crowd
- don’t share equipment, water bottles or snacks
- stay home if you’re feeling unwell – no exceptions.
“Everybody’s eager to get back to doing things we all love to do, especially this time of year when we have such beautiful weather. At the same time I think our community knows we have to proceed carefully,” said Saanich councillor Ned Taylor in an interview with Victoria Buzz last week.
“I for one am really excited to be able to get onto the tennis courts and get active again.”
