THUNDER BAY — In the midst of one of the longest stretches of steamy weather in years, the City of Thunder Bay officially opened three splash pads at noon on Wednesday.
Splash pads at the North end Recreation Centre, County Park and Franklin Park had been closed under COVID-19 restrictions.
Opening them is part of the Phase 2 reintroduction of municipal services.
The city worked under the guidance of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to establish a safety protocol.
Fencing has been installed around the splash pads, and access will be monitored and coordinated by attendants in order to control the number of users and maintain physical distancing requirements.
A maximum of 20 users are allowed at any given time.
Some features that create common touch points such as slides and climbing structures are being kept out of service.
However, water cannons, which were initially expected to be inaccessible as well, are being sanitized by attendants on a regular basis.
Unlike the normal hours of operation of seven days a week, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the splash pads will only operate Wednesday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cory Halvorsen, manager of parks and open spaces for the city, noted that users are required to sanitize their hands before entering the play area.
If there is a lineup, they will then have six to eight minutes to enjoy the features, before making way for another group.
Circles have been painted on the grass outside the splash pad to help participants stay a safe distance from others who are waiting to enter.
Halvorsen cautioned that playgrounds adjacent to splash pads remain off-limits under the city's COVID-19 restrictions.
The splash pad at Prince Arthur's Landing continues to remain out of service pending a review.
