If you look online, there is a lot of discussion about whether non-residents should be coming to Innisfil to use the beaches. But what do those visitors think?
The Town of Innisfil has increased the number of resident-only parking lots and has stepped up parking enforcement, but visitors to town keep coming.
Stuart Ross, a Milton resident with a secondary residence in Innisfil, was enjoying Innisfil Beach Park on July 5.
“A lot of people have a chip on their shoulder and believe that there are too many people coming from Toronto on day trips, but I don’t mind,” he said.
While he might be considered more at risk to COVID-19 due to health factors, Ross said he felt comfortable coming to the beach thanks to new physical-distancing measures, such as circles painted on the grass in the park.
“I’m very, very careful,” he said. “We've got a good distance away. We’re doing a good job here.”
Angue Sterling, an Innisfil resident, was at the park with two friends from the Greater Toronto Area.
“Because it’s a public space, I believe that everyone should be able to participate and come to the beach, similar to when you go to Toronto,” she said. “We’re all from Ontario.”
She said she and her friends would not be there if they thought there was a chance they were sick, adding that getting outside is vital to better mental health.
“I think we need to trust people that they are going to make the right decision in where they want to be.”
Innisfil resident Jessie Lala agreed it is important to get outside and the new measures at the park were helping.
“The kids need somewhere to go. With all this corona stuff going on, the kids have nothing to do, and at least with the circles it helps us to get out,” she said. “I think Toronto is not listening to it, though.”
Waterloo resident Kranthi Karri said he sympathizes with residents who worry about visitors, but it's summer and people are going to go to the beach.
“You can’t sit at your home forever, and now the cases are going down,” he said. “I think we are fine now as long as we are maintaining social distance.”
Innisfil resident Mike Vina said he thinks visitors should stay away right now considering the pandemic.
On June 28, so many people were in the park that Vina was turned away.
“I didn’t like that,” he said. “I was lucky to get in here today.”
Many people reported an improvement since the new measures were implemented.
“Today’s been great,” Barrie Vickers, chief building official for the Town of Innisfil, said July 5. “It's working cool. You see people are using it and respecting it.”
He said a large bylaw, security and South Simcoe Police Service presence helped keep things running smoothly and safely at the park.
Shane MacDonald, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Barrie Advance
