Pitt Meadows residents itching to work on their serves, backhands, or kick flips will be delighted to find out the city’s sports courts are reopening on Saturday, May 23.
As part of phase 2 of the BC Restart Plan, the city has decided to open some facilities at Harris Road Park, Pitt Meadows Athletic Park and the BMX track.
“I think over the course of the next weeks, right around the – Metro Vancouver area – you’re going to see a lot of things get back to where they were,” said Mayor Bill Dingwall.
“The City is taking a gradual, measured approach to reopening facilities to ensure that we don’t put our loved ones and most vulnerable citizens at risk. While everyone is eager to resume regular activities, we ask for your patience as we navigate the new normal.”
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This weekend will see tennis, basketball, and ball hockey courts as well; as the skate park, the BMX track and washrooms at Harris Road Park, Pitt Meadows Athletic Park and the BMX track open up.
Signage will be posted reminding residents to practice physical distancing, along with additional safety measures such as individual play and no sharing of equipment.
For sports like basketball or ball hockey, were close contact is inevitable, the city is asking those who use the courts to restrict play to families.
“We want people to still exercise the same physical distancing,” said Carolyn Baldridge, the city’s manager of communications and community engagement. “There should be no groups or organized play and only those within the same family or social bubble should be playing together.”
The city will be closely monitoring the use of these spaces and will make adjustments as needed.
All playgrounds and the spray park will remain closed.
“Our Emergency Operations Centre team is working on risk assessments and reopening plans for a variety of City services. Safety of our staff and the community is our highest priority as we gradually reopen facilities,” said chief administrative officer Mark Roberts. “We are continuing to receive guidance and updates from the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafe BC, and will share more information in the coming weeks.”
Safety measures that will be considered to protect staff, patrons and the community at large will include a combination of physical distancing measures; physical barriers or modifications to workplaces and facilities; additional cleaning and sanitization; rules and guidelines; and personal protective equipment.
For more information on the reopening of other Pitt Meadows facilities, residents can check pittmeadows.ca/COVID19.
ronan.p.odoherty@blackpress.ca
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