The North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee (NCJPC) has approved the stepped reopening of its recreation facilities and the resumption of services with new protocols in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The decision was made during a virtual meeting held on Tuesday, June 9.
In late May the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) and the Lifesaving Society (LSS) BC & Yukon Branch released guidelines for reopening recreation facilities in the province. These guidelines served as a toolkit which local governments could use to decide when and how to reopen their recreation facilities and restart programming.
Based on these guidelines the City has either already reopened or announced a reopening date for all of its outdoor recreation amenities including parks, trails, bike parks, skate park, dog park, tennis courts, pickleball courts, playgrounds, sport fields, ball diamonds, volleyball court and the spray park.
According to a report from the City, stage two of the plan will see the Arts and Recreation Centre reopen with reduced hours of operation and the gym will be open for drop in use. At this time limited outdoor-focused recreation programs and day camps will be offered and no events or programs that attract participants from out of town or that involve more the 50 individuals may be held.
“It is anticipated that the Arts and Recreation Centre and the gym would be ready to reopen on June 22, so we have some staff that have been recalled back – making sure the facility is ready, that we are in compliance with WorkSafe BC and all of the policies and processes that we need to have in place are in place,” said City of Quesnel director of community services, Jeff Norburn.
The original recommendation in the City’s report was that the change rooms in the gym be closed to the public in order to limit patrons potential exposure to COVID-19, however, members of the NCJPC voiced their concerns that not having change rooms available would negatively impact usership of the facility.
“If I go to a gym and I get all hot and sweaty I definitely want to change my clothes at least before I leave or change into them when I get there,” said Cariboo Regional District Area B director Barb Bachmeier. “I honestly think that the change rooms should be open personally, I just think that its hygiene more than anything.”
Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson added that he felt the change rooms offered more than enough space for patrons to practice safe social distancing and to not allow access to them would be a mistake.
“My experience in the recreation centre is I had a heck of a lot more room around me in the change rooms than I did in the gym, so it just seems a little bit odd,” said Mayor Simpson.
A motion was put forward to include public access to the change rooms in the reopening plan of the recreation centre, it passed unanimously.
Regarding the reopening of properties managed by volunteer organizations in stage two of the plan, facilities may be reopened based on demand and in accordance with the guidelines and orders of the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafe BC. Organized activities will be required to provide a ‘Return to Play Plan’ or a ‘COVID Safety Plan’ before organized use of recreation facilities will be permitted. As with City and NCJPC facilities, no events or programs that attract participants from out of town or that involve more the 50 individuals may be held.
“I’m wondering if our staff are going to be able to provide some direction to groups on what’s expected – small sports groups may not really understand what’s necessary or where they would get the information to put a proper plan together,” said Cariboo Regional District Area C director John Massier.
Director Norburn answered that city staff would be available to field any questions groups may have and that “Return to Play Plan” templates have been made available by viaSport B.C.
“Absolutely, there are templates that are available through viaSport and through other organizations – they don’t have to be that complex, It’s not necessarily a 25-page document or anything it could be a simple page or two, it basically just addresses some key essential questions,” said Norburn. “If any of the user groups are having issues they can contact us and we would be able to steer them in the right direction.”
Stage three of the reopening plan will see expanded hours of operation at the recreation centre as well as facility rentals being accepted for the recreation centre and Arenas so long as ‘Return to Play’ plans are completed where applicable.
This stage would also see the swimming pool at the recreation centre open up to the public, although the hot tub and saunas will remain closed. Recreation programming will be expanded and limited aquatic programming will be provided. The walking track at the West Fraser Centre will also reopen however events or programs involving more then 50 individuals will still be prohibited.
Stage four of the plan will see facilities and services resume fully, including allowing events of 50 or more people but Norburn warns this stage may only be reached once there is a vaccine for COVID-19.
“At some point in the future when we reach stage four which essentially when we have heard immunity or we have a vaccine then there would be full resumption and services including allowing events for more than 50 people, said Norburn. “Obviously all of this is flexible depending on recommendations that come from the authorities.”
READ MORE: City of Quesnel sets dates for phased reopening of facilities
sasha.sefter@quesnelobserver.com
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