On May 19, the province officially entered the first stage of its ‘Framework for Reopening the Province’, and announced that it amended Ontario Regulation 104/20 made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act - Closure of Outdoor Recreational Amenities.

These amendments will soon allow the opening of the following amenities:

  • Outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields (including baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and frisbee golf locations, tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, BMX parks, and skate parks)
  • Off-leash dog areas; and
  • Outdoor picnic sites, benches and shelters in park and recreational areas.

Parks staff are inspecting the City’s 73 different park sites with these amenities and will immediately re-open sites as they can, though sites with safety issues will remain closed until they are fixed. The inspection process will take several days. We will be working to re-open these amenities as soon as practical with a focus on health and safety for the public and staff.

Any person who uses the above amenities MUST maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from any other person using the amenity (unless they are part of the same household).

The Ministry of Health is reminding people of the importance of public health measures such as not attending any organized public events or social gatherings of more than five people, practicing physical distancing, handwashing, and staying home when ill.

If an individual arrives at an amenity, such as an off-leash dog area, sports field or picnic area, that is crowded, they should wait until there is enough space to physically distance or return at another time. Signage will be updated as possible.

Outdoor Recreational Amenities that Remain Closed
Outdoor playgrounds, play structures and equipment, fitness equipment, public swimming pools, splash pads and similar outdoor water facilities will remain closed until later stages of the province's reopening plan.

For the most up-to-date list of service changes, and additional city service information lines, visit: www.thunderbay.ca/coronavirus For public health information, visit:

  • www.ontario.ca/coronavirus - the Ontario Ministry of Health reports on the status of cases in Ontario each morning at 10:30 am.
  • www.TBDHU.COM/coronavirus - the Health Unit’s website contains links to credible sources of information for both the public and local health care providers.

- 30 -

Contact: Stacey Levanen, Supervisor – Corporate Communications, 625-3650