Matthews West, the developer of the oceanfront lands, is restricting access to the popular spot to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Starting this weekend (April 17) the company is restricting vehicle access to the Oceanfront Park by closing the gate on the access road from Friday evenings to Monday mornings. Additionally, any vehicles parking outside of the gate, along the access road will be towed, according to a news release from Matthews West.**
"As a local company, whose employees all reside in Squamish, Matthews West Ltd. understands both the role and importance the Squamish Oceanfront plays in the community. It is where we walk our dogs; observe the sound; find reprieve in our day to day; and, up until recently, where we gathered with friends. We know, in time, this will be true again," reads the release.
"For now, we cannot stress the importance that any and all visitors to the Oceanfront Park and Loop strictly follow the social distancing guidelines as detailed by the province of British Columbia."
The release also asks that visitors to Squamish avoid the area — for now.
"We hope this will deter non-local visitors. We will continue to monitor the use of the Oceanfront Park System."
The release adds that if social distancing measures are not observed on the property, the area may be closed off completely.
"If Oceanfront Park System becomes a place of transmission, we will close access to this area until a time when it is safe again for the general public. We must be diligent about our actions to ensure we keep our community safe."
Mayor Karen Elliott told The Chief that part of the agreement with the Oceanfront development allows the District to keep access to open through the construction period as much as possible.
During the Easter long weekend, access was shut, Elliott said, as it was anticipated it could become a hotspot.
Elliott also said another popular local park, the Smoke Bluffs is still open, but last weekend there were patrols in the area urging people to keep physical distancing in place.
She said the District has been encouraging people to exercise close to home, and that park is a place where nearby residents can walk and get some air.
The climbing community has been discouraging its members from climbing during the pandemic, though, she noted.
“We’re just asking people to be mindful of their social distancing,” said Elliott.
“There’s no public health order in place that would allow us to enforce people not doing what’s been asked of them.”
There’s no way to ticket people who aren’t social distancing, as there’s no explicit legal order making people stand two metres apart, she said.
It’s something being asked of us — like washing hands, but it’s not an order. So, legally, there’s no enforcement mechanism.
“I can’t enforce that in a way I think some people want us to,” she said. “I’m not sure that’s where Dr. Henry has wanted to go from the beginning of this. She has appealed to our sense of civic duty — our responsibility for others.”
**Please note, Matthews West, was formerly called Squamish Cornerstone Developments Lp. The company is in the midst of a name change to Matthews West. Matthews Southwest is their parent company in Dallas, Texes. An original version of this story said the company was formerly called Matthews Southwest, but that was incorrect.
