Ontario’s provincial parks will reopen this week, announced the minister in charge of their management.
The announcement was made on Saturday. Some parks will reopen on Monday while others will reopen on Friday. This was announced by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Jeff Yurek, in a press release on Saturday.
The parks will be open, but only for walking, hiking, biking and bird watching, the official statement said. All buildings and facilities, including toilets, water fountains, campsites (including backcountry), covered accommodation and playgrounds, as well as the beaches will remain closed.
The Minister also participated in the daily press conference with Prime Minister Doug Ford. Mr. Yurek reminded several times that physical distance measures should continue to be observed by all those who wish to take advantage of the good weather in the parks.
“Bring your mask and hand sanitizer,” he said.
In addition, park staff will be on site to provide reminders. “These are large tracts of land, so we are counting on the citizens, they are the ones who have to abide by the rules,” he said.
In the press release, the ministry specifies that access to all parks and conservation reserves will be free until the end of May In addition, this Monday, 520 provincial parks and conservation reserves will reopen to the public, and another 115 will reopen next Friday.
