County to monitor parking near Provincial Parks during long weekend
Administrator | May 15, 2020 | Comments 1
The municipality will monitor and enforce parking restrictions on County roads surrounding provincial parks, which opened for limited day-use activities on Friday, May 15.
Walking, hiking, and biking are among the day-use activities permitted at Sandbanks and the Lake on the Mountain provincial parks. North Beach Provincial Park remains closed until June 12, its annual reopening date.
Beach access, camping, and large gatherings are prohibited. All buildings and facilities – including washrooms – will remain closed.
A limited parking area at Sandbank’s Provincial Park’s main entrance kiosks and also at the park’s main administrative office is now available for public use. With the limited vehicle access to the park, there is a safe opportunity to explore the park’s roads, trails and campgrounds by bicycle.
Signs are posted along County roads near Sandbanks Provincial Park and Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park where parking is not permitted. The parking restrictions are in place to ensure the safe and orderly flow of traffic near these park locations.
Ontario Parks is encouraging Ontarians to stay local and explore the outdoors in areas closest to home to reduce travel to other areas of the province. COVID-19 health measures are strongly encouraged.
Wellington Beach remains closed under the provincial restrictions. Large gatherings are prohibited, but walking along the waterfront is permitted.
To discourage large gatherings at Wellington Beach, the closure of parking lot at the beach will be actively enforced during the Victoria Day long weekend beginning on Friday afternoon. Barricades are in place on Beach Street to prevent vehicles from coming into the parking area.
Bulk water haulers will be allowed through to access the bulk water station.
The boat launch at Beach Street is blocked. Boaters looking to get on the water in Wellington can use the other boat launch at 151 Wellington Main Street.
Public washrooms across the municipality remain closed.
The Government of Ontario recently announced that private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract. Short-term use of campgrounds is not allowed.
Filed Under: Local News
I’m not sure if this is the news item where my comment belongs, but it is the closest I could get to the topic…
Yesterday, a friend was in the Beer Store in Napanee – where he overheard a customer brag about being American and how easy it was for both he and his friends to boat across Lake Ontario, without any problems!! The cashier asked where he docked his boat – he guy refused to respond. The fact that he entered our country illegally, or that he should be quarantined for 14 days – he didn’t seem to care. It was a lark and game for him to play.
The obvious questions come to mind – where is the border security, the police or what rights do we as citizens have when confronted with this kind of thing?
If this is at all indicative of what we might be facing this summer, then we better be prepared for wave 2 of COVID 19.