By Tristan Marks
NewsNow

In a bid to help encourage social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, West Niagara’s municipalities have closed their parks.

The Towns of Lincoln and Grimsby, as well as the Township of West Lincoln, have closed down all their respective park equipment and amenities to the public.

Signs have been posted on park equipment across all three municipalities to show that the following are closed:

• Playground structures;
• Benches & tables;
• Gazebos;
• Basketball courts;
• Sports fields, and
• Any other item that is high touch or encourages the gathering of people.

Additionally, Lincoln has closed its leash-free dog park due to it’s confined and closed off space. Likewise, Grimsby has closed its dog parks and skate parks.

The Town of Grimsby has warned that parks equipment including playgrounds, swing sets, picnic tables, benches and other amenities are not cleaned or sanitized.

Open, green spaces in parks remain accessible to residents of each municipality. However this comes with a warning: residents who choose to use the green spaces do so at their own risk. Additionally, each municipality said park users must six feet (two metres) away from others and maintain other COVID-19 precautions. Those who are sick are asked to stay home.

For continuing updates on municipal actions regarding COVID-19, including up to date closures, go online and visit grimsby.ca/en/covid-19 for Grimsby, lincoln.ca/coronavirus-pandemic for Lincoln and westlincoln.ca for West Lincoln.