It’s been a little boring playing in the backyard, according to one child playing catch at the Friendship Park playground in Sechelt.
He and four other children were basking in the Monday sun and in their newfound freedom the afternoon playgrounds officially reopened across the Sunshine Coast.
Playgrounds had been closed since March due to COVID-19-related public health restrictions, but as of June 1, the District of Sechelt opened its playgrounds back up to the public.
Playgrounds are now open across the Sunshine Coast. At a May 28 Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) committee meeting, CAO Dean McKinley said starting June 1, “the tape will be coming of the playgrounds” and they would be reopened with “appropriate signage.”
All school playgrounds are now open, too, School District No. 46 superintendent Patrick Bocking confirmed.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry addressed the parks and playground issue on May 28, not long after the reopenings were announced.
“We’re quite excited about that, actually,” she said. “These are important venues for children.”
Henry provided guidance to the municipalities on how best to reopen them.
“We know it has to be done safely and, again, it comes down to the very basics, making sure we have small numbers of children trying to avoid physical contact … and the importance of hand hygiene,” Henry said.
She emphasized that both children and adults need to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms at all that could be related to COVID-19.
June 1 gave Sunshine Coast residents other places to recreate, too.
The Katherine Lake campground is also open for day use as of June 1, as is the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden.
Those wanting to book the SCRD’s community halls will have to wait, however. No firm date has been announced for those, said SCRD staff at the May 28 meeting. In Sechelt, Mission Point House, Seaside Centre and Rockwood Lodge can now be booked, but have reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing.
Municipal government offices in Sechelt were also slated to open June 1. Gibsons Town Hall has been open since May 20. The SCRD’s administrative offices on Field Road remain closed.
Fare collection has also begun on BC Transit buses on the Sunshine Coast as of June 1.
– With files from Brent Richter, North Shore News
