The City of Nanaimo has installed signage at all popular outdoor areas encouraging social distancing. (submitted/Maija Rawnsley)

By Alex Rawnsley

COVID CLOSURES

Frustrations grow among Nanaimo residents over COVID recreation restrictions

Apr 20, 2020 | 7:33 AM

NANAIMO — As heavy COVID-19 restrictions move into its second month frustrations mount over people seemingly ignoring social distancing rules.

Outdoor settings like Neck Point Park and Maffeo Sutton Park are growing in popularity as the weather improves, but crowds forming have frustrated some members of the community.

Dave LaBerge, City of Nanaimo manager of community safety, told NanaimoNewsNOW they hear the concerns, however their role is primarily in education of provincial orders, not enforcement.

“The requirement to socially distance is not a health order, it can’t be enforced by anybody. It’s a recommendation that’s strongly encouraged and that’s what everyone in enforcement is trying to educate the public on.”

The City took the proactive step to close a majority of their public facilities including recreation centres and playgrounds throughout March. At the time the closures weren’t a direct order, but done to allow the City to abide by mass gathering directives from the province.

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Most parks and trails remain open in the region and LaBarge said the city has received numerous complaints of social distancing violations in outdoor spaces across Nanaimo, namely Blueback Stairs.

On Thursday, April 16, LaBerge said they caught people who had climbed fences to play tennis at the locked courts at Beban Park.

Skateboard parks have also been troublesome for the City during the pandemic.

“We’re patrolling those areas between the police and bylaw officers, asking people to move on. In the case of the skateboard parks, we’ve laid sand down so they’re not usable.”

LaBerge said outside of locking the gates and putting in preventative measures, there is very little enforcement they can do.

To better educate the public on social distancing recommendations, the City expanded a pilot park ambassador program on Friday, April 17.

The program began over the Easter long weekend and sees city workers patrol popular outdoor spaces to create awareness about physical distancing.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley