THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay is looking to salvage at least some summer fun as it considers reopening a number of programs and facilities. A slate of confirmed and potential reopenings was approved by city council on Monday, though all will require new measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
The city’s summer camps and playgrounds program are both confirmed to reopen with new restrictions in place, as is Sandy Beach. With the closure of outdoor pools and Boulevard Lake, it will be the only outdoor swimming facility operated by the city this year.
The beach is set to open July 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days per week. Modifications, based on the Lifesaving Society’s COVID-19 guidelines, will include additional staff, controlled entrance and exit, and expansion of the roped swim area to allow greater distancing.
The city’s three neighbourhood splash pads are also expected to reopen in early July. The splash pad at Marina Park isn’t expected to open until later that month.
The pads will be fenced off to control numbers, with staff supervision from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The city is also staffing a mobile security unit to support staff during busy times.
The city expects four community centres to reopen on a limited basis in July. The volunteer boards that run the North McIntyre and Oliver Road centres intend to open as soon as they get city approval, the Current River centre on July 6, and West Thunder July 20.
Those that do open will limit space bookings to groups of 10 or fewer, and fitness activities will not be allowed.
The boards for the remaining community centres expressed limited interest in reopening until gatherings of more than 10 people were permitted, the city said. Regular user groups at those facilities may be allowed to use the centres by city staff, but new one-time bookings will not be permitted.
The city is also developing plans to reopen indoor pools, though a firm timeline is not yet in place. COVID-19 measures will include screening, limiting numbers and time of use, increased cleaning, and limited access to change rooms and showers.
Slides, diving boards, saunas, whirlpools, and non-essential shared equipment will all be off limits.
Some activities will be offered in a limited fashion, such as low-ratio swim lessons, with parents in the water and instructors on the deck, and pre-booked times for length swimming, family swim, and swim clubs.
