On Friday morning, Innisfil’s beaches were officially re-opened to the public – but for Innisfil residents only, at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
The handful of local families who came out to enjoy the sand and water at Innisfil Beach Park on Friday morning found that the plastic fencing that has kept people off the beaches for weeks had been replaced by wooden snow fencing.
There was just a small gap in each fence, providing access to Lake Simcoe.
Several beach-goers questioned why the town had made the extra effort to fence off the spaces, just as the beaches were about to reopen.
The single point of entry at each beach is a deliberate strategy, part of the town’s effort to ensure the safe reopening of park amenities, said Johnny Keogh, Innisfil Communications Lead.
“It’s meant to prevent people from approaching the space from every angle and all at once,” explained Keogh. “This allows people to assess the space to see if there is enough room for physical distancing, and read the signage before they enter.”
The signs ask people to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms that could be related to COVID-19, maintain physical distancing of 2 metres, and practice frequent hand sanitizing.
Face masks are recommended as a means of stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus, especially if it is difficult to maintain physical distancing.
Residents are also asked to keep the parks and beaches clean, disposing of garbage - including sanitary wipes, gloves and masks – in the garbage receptacles that have now been set out. The town also had a request: "If receptacles are full, please take your waste home.”
In the effort to curb non-resident access, parking lots at Innisfil Beach Park and at other beaches and road ends are now signed “Resident Use Only.”
The beaches were fairly empty on Friday morning, the domain of young families, moms and their children - but everyone out enjoying the weather, clean sand and waters of Lake Simcoe suggested that it would be a different story on the weekend.
