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Council approves parks and rec re-opening strategy
City of Cranbrook council June 22 approved a Parks and Recreation Facility Reopening Strategy.
Prepared by Community Services director Chris New, the re-opening strategy is based around the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association’s (BCRPA) set of guidelines for how the public recreation and parks sector can operate safely during the pandemic.
“The province also tasked viaSPORT for developing guidelines for the safe return of sport. The BCRPA guidelines provide a framework for local and regional governments to apply to the provision of recreation and parks services in the pandemic, and is to be used to develop policies, plans and procedures specific to each organization,” New reported.
“In addition to active involvement with the provincial discussions, the city has participated with other communities in the RDEK (Regional District of East Kootenay), through the Regional Emergency Operations Centre, to try to restart in a locally coordinated way,” he said.
“In the current Phase 2 of the Province’s Restart Plan, we see most of our outdoor facilities open but operating within a new normal. Social distancing, small groups, personal hygiene, non-contact sport are some of these. We are in the early stages of beginning to transition into indoor facilities. Staff anticipate this re-opening strategy to be a living document that will give direction to staff, and also provide Council the opportunity for active discussion to guide further revisions. Staff will provide regular updates to Council to reflect the rapidly changing environment.”
Premier John Horgan today (June 24) announced B.C. is beginning Phase 3 of the provincial re-opening plan.
Since the closure of most of the city’s recreational facilities and amenities took place in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been considerable work at many levels of government to guide municipalities back to develop re-opening plans, New added.
Lead image: City public works staff work on the playground in Rotary Park May 30. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo
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