The City of Burnaby has prepared for a spate of sunny weather with steps aimed at keeping people safe from COVID-19 in local parks if they venture outside.
“The warm weather may seem inviting, but the message from public health officials in B.C. remains the same: avoid crowds and stay home whenever possible to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19,” read a city news release.
The city announced it was increasing staff patrols at all busy parks beginning this weekend, posting physical distancing signage at parks and trails, and changing to a one-way only travel pattern at Deer Lake Park.
Staff patrols have been increased at the following parks: Deer Lake, Barnet Marine, Central, Burnaby Fraser Foreshore, Confederation and Edmonds. Staff will be reminding visitors to keep two metres between themselves and others.
Changes at Deer Lake Park
Deer Lake is one of the city’s busiest parks. Making the trails one-way only will make it easier for people to enjoy the trails while practicing physical distancing. With a variety of loop length options, walkers can choose the path that suits their needs. Large maps at all the main entrances to the park show the routes, and there is directional signage throughout the park:
- Deer Lake Route = 3.5 km.
- Hart House Mini Route = 1.2 km.
- Oakland Flats = 2 km.
- Royal Oak Meadow Route = 1.7 km.
“While the new one-way measure will make it easier for people to keep their distance from each another, the best way to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 is to avoid visiting the park during peak hours,” said the city.
Changes at Barnet Marine Park
If you plan to visit Barnet Marine Park, the pedestrian bridge linking the west parking lot to the park is closed, as is the playground in the park and the east washroom. Access to the park and beach is available through the west parking lot and west entrance only.
