Play safe in Vaughan parks

Be smart and protect yourself – and others – when visiting local parks! The City of Vaughan is reminding citizens to make safety the priority when using recently reopened park facilities. It is important that everyone stays vigilant and follows protocols designed to help protect the health of the entire community while enjoying amenities like basketball, tennis and bocce courts; splashpads; the dog park and sports fields. 

Keep these things in mind when visiting a Vaughan park: 

• Continue to practise physical distancing by staying at least two metres (approximately six feet) away from others.
• Splashpads are not supervised and require everyone to play a part. Maintain physical distancing and ensure hands are sanitized before and after use.
• Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people (per provincial guidelines). Congregating in parks and other public spaces while physical distancing measures are in effect is not permitted. Spectating must also be avoided to prevent crowding.
• Do not share equipment, including tennis racquets, skateboards or personal water bottles.
• Avoid visiting parks outside of your local neighbourhood or community.
• Dogs must remain on their leashes at all times. They are only permitted to be off-leash at the designated off-leash dog park.
• Tennis is only permitted in areas where nets are set up.
• Remember to gather all your belongings before exiting the park.
• Do not litter. Place personal protective equipment, such as gloves or masks, into the garbage bin when done with them.
• Wash or sanitize your hands before and after visiting a splash pad.
• Always sneeze and cough into your sleeve or a tissue to prevent further transmission of germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Do not visit a park if you are not feeling well. Those who feel unwell, and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19, should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
• Keep up with good hand hygiene, including washing your hands often with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

These requirements for citizens have also been incorporated into signs, which are installed in parks. 

Although the City has reopened many park amenities, others continue to remain closed, including playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment, the outdoor pool, and premium and artificial fields and diamonds. 

The City has taken a disciplined, responsible and measured approach to implementing precautionary measures to protect citizens and staff from COVID-19. That same approach is guiding decision-making about reopening facilities in the weeks and months ahead. The decision to reopen select amenities is informed by a risk model developed by the City to help determine which should remain closed and when they should reopen – with public safety always being the priority. The risk model uses Vaughan-specific data and reflects guidance issued by York Region Public Health and the provincial government, such as the ongoing extension of province-wide emergency orders. 

SEE A VIOLATION? 

Any violations of the remaining park facility closures can be reported to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. Calls of this nature will be referred to the City's By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services department for investigation. Fines of $105 to $400 under the Parks By-law, and $500 to $100,000 under the Emergency Measures By-law, may be laid. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

For more information on the City’s response efforts, visit vaughan.ca/COVID19 or contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. To receive the latest updates as they happen, sign up for City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels. 

For additional information and resources on COVID-19, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.  

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