May 1, 2020
The City of Edmonton is taking its first steps toward a safe relaunch plan, with dog parks restrictions being relaxed tomorrow and other outdoor amenities in the coming weeks. This phase of the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will involve looking at how the City may gradually reopen in compliance with all provincial requirements.
“Let me be clear. This is one turn of the dial, not the flip of a switch,” said Interim City Manager Adam Laughlin. “The City’s priority remains the health and safety of all Edmontonians and we ask that people continue to keep appropriate physical distance.”
Relaunch efforts will depend on public health requirements, public safety, operational resources, budgets, compliance levels and other factors. As restrictions begin to roll back in Edmonton, provincial Orders remain in place reminding Edmontonians to:
- Keep 2-metre physical distance in public spaces, including outdoors
- Self-isolate if confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19
- Limit all gatherings to a maximum of 15 people
Dog parks
Effective Saturday, May 2, dogs will be permitted off-leash in all 38 open dog parks. Visitors are asked to avoid congregating in the park or the parking lots and Edmontonians who do not have a dog are encouraged to use other parks to ensure physical distancing can be practiced safely.
Peace officers will continue to monitor these spaces for compliance with physical distancing requirements. Reopening of the four fenced dog parks in Edmonton (Lauderdale, Manning Village, Paisley and Alex DeCoteau) will be staged and dependent on compliance at the off-leash parks.
Municipal golf courses
The City is developing a plan to open Edmonton’s municipal golf courses, which include Victoria Golf Course, Rundle Park Golf Course and Riverside Golf Course. This plan will be in compliance with provincial requirements, meaning pro shops and clubhouses will stay closed and all physical distancing requirements will remain in place.
“We are carefully reviewing the provincial plan and, together with City leadership, will assess what this means for City services and our community,’ said Laughlin.
The City will bring forward a more detailed plan at the Emergency Advisory Committee meeting on May 7. This plan will align with Stage 1 of Alberta’s relaunch strategy, targeted for May 14.
”Thank you to Edmontonians for their dedicated efforts to stay safe over the past many weeks,” Laughlin said. “Each of you helped bring us to this point today and those continued efforts will have a direct impact on the success of Edmonton’s relaunch.”
