OLDS — The town tentatively planned to re-open parks, playgrounds and the skateboard park, effective today, June 1.
“Tentatively, we would be prepared to open June 1, so unless something changes, that’s the game plan,” deputy director of emergency operations Jennifer Lutz said during a May 25 town council meeting.
However, the onus will be on all park or playground users – including parents and guardians -- to make sure all equipment utilized in those parks is cleaned before and after they’re touched and/or used. Users will need to wash their hands before and after touching equipment as well.
Signs will be erected making that clear, town officials say, noting they’ve cleared the wording for those signs with legal counsel and insurance advisors.
This applies only to town-owned parks and playgrounds.
Community services director Doug Wagstaff said the responsibility for setting the rules for playgrounds on school grounds post-pandemic lockdown rests with the respective Chinook’s Edge and Red Deer Regional school boards.
“We have been in consultation with both of the school divisions. They are still looking at and assessing how they are going to do that for their divisions across many municipalities,” Wagstaff said.
“At this point in time, they remain closed. We will help with the communication on that, but it is the school divisions that are responsible for the inspections and signage and safety of each of their respective playgrounds,” he added.
Wagstaff said the signs at town-owned parks and playgrounds will remain in place after the COVID-19 pandemic passes because the rules will remain “equally valid” at that point.
Wagstaff said all the parks and playgrounds will be inspected prior to June 1. He said monthly inspections were suspended once the parks and playgrounds were closed on March 16.
Meanwhile, Lutz said it’s not yet clear when ball diamonds and soccer fields can be opened.
“The province has told us that they are going to be providing more guidance on baseball diamonds and soccer fields.
“Right now the recommendation is no league play so we are just waiting for more recommendation,” she said.
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