Credit: Alex Pugliese/Unsplash
The City of Edmonton has announced that it will resume renting certain outdoor facilities and start offering outdoor fitness programs again this summer.
Alberta is moving to Stage 2 of its reopening strategy allowing indoor recreation centres, libraries, fitness centres, sports amenities, gyms, pools and arenas to reopen with restrictions.
David Aitken, chair of the City’s COVID-19 Task Team said, “Planning is currently underway for the opening of a select number of City recreation facilities. We are aiming for early July but there is much more work to be done to understand how we will implement the health guidelines and how this fits into the City’s larger financial reality.”
What Will Reopen in Near Future:
- June 15: The City will resume booking and rentals of City-owned sports fields, ball diamonds and staffed fields and track and field facilities. However, due to reduced staffing standard fields are mowed and maintained less frequently which will result in longer grass and more weeds than in previous years. Premier sports fields will receive regular maintenance. Field lining services will not be offered on any City fields this season.
- June 15: the funicular will resume operation from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m, providing accessibility options into the river valley for Edmontonians. Additional COVID-19 prevention measures will be introduced, including limiting ridership to two people at a time, adding signage about physical distancing and increasing cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces.
- June 17: Beechmount Cemetery will open for general inquiries and walk-in services. South Haven Cemetery will open for in-person appointments only.
- June 22: Modified outdoor fitness programs will be offered in select locations. Starting later next week, individuals 13 years and older will be able to register for these programs on movelearnplay.edmonton.ca.
- Starting mid-August, Big Bin events will resume with five events planned through to fall 2020.
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