INNISFAIL – Kids are back doing what they do best – having fun in local playgrounds.
On May 28, the town’s Emergency Management Committee formally approved the reopening of all local playgrounds as part of the municipality’s carefully planned strategy to bring Innisfail back to normalcy from the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the town has still maintained a full set of safety guidelines and restrictions for playground play, along with signage at each site.
“I am glad to see town administration continue to follow the guidance of Dr. Deena Hinshaw. It is nice to see families enjoying the playgrounds and having another outlet to enjoy,” said Coun. Jean Barclay, who was also part of the playground reopening discussion at council’s regular meeting on May 25.
Since May 15 the town has also reopened, albeit with guidelines and restrictions, the off-leash dog park, RV Sani Dump, Innisfail Skatepark, sports fields and ball diamonds, Dodd’s Lake and tennis courts.
“Had we had a situation in our municipality that there was still evidence of positive elements out there for the virus it might have been a totally different story,” said mayor Jim Romane of the playground opening decision. “But there has been so very little in this area we can watch and keep very good close attention to it.
“There are some restrictions, like social distancing. The kids can’t be climbing around on each other. They got to spread out and hopefully the parents are there to supervise them,” he added. “You can’t protect the world forever.”
Since the outbreak in Alberta began, the Innisfail area has had only one confirmed case of COVID-19. The person has sine recovered.
Town of Innisfail officials are urging playground users and local parents to review the set of facility-specific restrictions and guidelines as set out by the provincial government and Alberta Health Services.
They include maintaining physical distancing of two metres from each other, group gatherings of no more than 50 people and wearing a mask if physical distancing if two metres cannot be maintained.
