The City of Toronto is working to reopen outdoor recreational amenities following the Province of Ontario’s announcement that a number of amenities can reopen effective Saturday, May 22.
Outdoor recreational amenities scheduled to reopen include:
Work is underway to remove locks and signs from gated and locked amenities such as tennis courts ahead of Saturday. Other amenities such as sports fields, sports courts and fitness stations will be reopened through the removal of signs.
Beginning Saturday, outdoor recreational amenities will reopen with restrictions in place, such as the need to maintain physical distancing. These amenities include but are not limited to golf courses and driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts and skate parks. Golf courses will be open for use effective Saturday, May 22. Team sports cannot be played or practiced, and recreational classes are not permitted.
Staff continue to work closely with Toronto Public Health to ensure that residents can safely use the City’s outdoor recreational amenities. Even though the fields are now open, pavilions, clubhouses, change areas and lockers will not be available for use, under provincial orders. Outdoor playgrounds and fitness equipment are not sanitized, and residents should follow proper health guidelines before and after use.
The City asks residents to remember while visiting a park, beach or public square and while using outdoor recreational amenities to practice physical distancing and keep two metres (or six feet) away from people who are not from your household. There are more than 1,500 parks in Toronto.
Quotes:
“I want to thank Premier Ford and the cabinet for opening outdoor recreation amenities starting this weekend. City staff are working now to open those amenities for this weekend. The announcement today from the Ontario government recognizes the progress we have all made in stopping the spread of COVID-19 by following the public health measures. It is also a testament to the tremendous work being done to get as many people as possible vaccinated with the available vaccine supply. The fight against COVID-19 continues along with our immunization efforts but today we have the kind of clear roadmap forward we were seeking, so we could get on with safely and cautiously reopening.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Access to outdoor recreational amenities is critical to the physical and mental health of all Torontonians. With over 1,500 public parks in our City, we are excited to reopen the outdoor recreational amenities for residents to enjoy, while maintaining continued health measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
– Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.