The City of Parksville will re-open facilities to organized recreational sports groups on Friday, June 26.
New procedures will be in in place to ensure users take the required health and safety precautions.
City facilities which were closed in March to help slow the spread of COVID-19, reopened for casual play in May. It is responding to guidance from the Provincial Health Authority that recreation, especially outdoors, poses low risk to the community when certain practices are implemented.
The city follows the guidelines of the Provincial Health Officer, along with the BC Restart Plan which takes a co-ordinated approach to the return of sport. As well, ViaSport provided return to sport guidelines to assist sports groups and organizations to produce their own plans for a safe return to sport and mitigate the risk of exposure to the virus.
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The city requires ViaSport approved return to play plans prior to organized events at city facilities.
User groups must also have measures in place to support public safety, such as focusing on drills and skill building, limiting touch points, ensuring physical distancing and operating in accordance with provincial health restrictions.
As well, sports groups must remind their players, coaches, officials and spectators of the guidelines and provide copies of their plans to all participants.
The familiar restrictions continue to apply to groups when using city facilities:
• Frequent hand-washing or sanitizing protocols
• Limited sharing of sanitized equipment
• Physical distancing measures of two metres
• Ensure no one with symptoms attends the activity
• Illness policies for staff and volunteers
The city is now accepting applications for permits and bookings of fields and courts for scheduled recreation activities after June 26.
To book the sports fields or ball diamonds for organized leagues contact the Regional District of Nanaimo at 250-248-3252 or www.rdn.bc.ca
— NEWS Staff, submitted