Additional Physical Distancing Measures Recommended in Parks

To help prevent spread of COVID-19

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed April 24, 2020 12:56 PM

Summary

To stop the spread of COVID-19, the City of Nanaimo is recommending additional physical distancing for participants while in local parks and trails. In addition to the two metres (6 feet) for walkers, City staff recommend joggers to stay 5 metres (16 feet) and cyclists to stay 10 metres (33 feet) away from other park visitors. As well, citizens are reminded to go to the edge of the path or trail to allow for single file passing when seeing other parks and trails users.

Although these are only recommendations, and not Health Orders from the Provincial Health Officer, these new standards are designed to help everyone practice proper parks usage and etiquette during this time.

To help remind citizens of physical distancing, signs have been produced and installed in parks and at trailheads. Park Ambassadors can also be found in several parks, including Westwood Lake Park, Bowen Park, Maffeo Sutton and the downtown waterfront, Neck Point Park, Colliery Dam Park, as well as smaller parks, trails and beaches reminding visitors about physical distancing guidelines.

Nanaimo's parks and trails remain open, but as always, visitors should only come to them when healthy.

Link to Strategic Plan: The City of Nanaimo is committed to the safety and well-being of its residents.

Key Points

Physical distancing has been shown to be effective in preventing the community spread of COVID-19.
City of Nanaimo facilities, playgrounds, fields, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, gated dog off-leash areas and other amenities remain closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Park Ambassador Program has been created to help remind park users about physical distancing. Ambassadors can be found in several parks in Nanaimo wearing bright yellow vests.

Quotes

"Although these new physical distancing guidelines for joggers and cyclists are only recommendations, we want to encourage visitors to follow them so that everyone in the community can be healthy and safe as we fight the spread of COVID-19."

Art Groot

Director, Facility ＆ Parks Operations

City of Nanaimo

Images

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Contact:

Art Groot

Director, Facility ＆ Parks Operations

City of Nanaimo

250-755-7542

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