Town shares preliminary re-opening plans for select municipal facilities

The Town of St. Marys is sharing preliminary re-opening plans for select municipal facilities as it prepares to move into Stage 3 of the Province’s COVID-19 recovery framework. Stage 3 comes into effect in St. Marys as of 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2020.  

All re-opening decisions have been made with the guidance of the Town’s Municipal Operations and Services Recovery Framework. This document outlines the Town’s approach to re-opening and emphasizes the need to balance the safety of patrons and staff with affordability for taxpayers.

Parks, playgrounds and pavilions

Municipal playgrounds and pavilions will be re-open as of Friday, July 17, 2020 on a “use at your own risk” basis. Residents are reminded to avoid using these amenities if they are feeling sick, to wash their hands before and after using these amenities, to bring hand sanitizer if possible, and to practice physical distancing at all times while in municipal parks.  

Gatherings and events in parks of up to 100 people will also be permitted, as long as physical distancing can be maintained by all people at all times.

St. Marys VIA Rail station

The VIA Rail station will re-open for commercial tenants and their customers on Monday, July 20, 2020. Anyone visiting the businesses at the VIA station will require a mask or other face covering, as directed by Huron Perth Public Health. Staff will evaluate the situation and consider re-opening the VIA Rail customer service desk during the week of August 3, 2020.

Municipal Operations Centre

The service counter at the Municipal Operations Centre is tentatively scheduled to re-open on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Staff are currently evaluating the possibility of a “flex” schedule that may include reduced hours to allow for extra cleaning.

St. Marys Quarry

The current schedule of three swims per day will remain in place at the quarry for the foreseeable future. Swims will continue to be limited to 70 patrons to align with current Lifesaving Society rules, despite outdoor gathering limits being expanded to 100 people.

St. Marys Public library

The library will remain closed to the public for now. A plan to re-open to the public for limited hours is being developed, but will not be considered by the Library Board until mid-August, at the earliest. 

In the meantime, staff are reviewing options to extend the hours of the library’s curbside pick-up and drop-off program and offer pre-arranged appointments for public computer access.

St. Marys Museum

The museum will remain closed to the public for now. Staff are currently reviewing options to open to the public for research services and to offer outdoor programming.

Pyramid Recreation Centre

The Pyramid Recreation Centre (PRC) is currently open for health care services, including foot care and blood donor clinics. It remains closed for all other programs, activities and events.

Although recreation centres are allowed to open for sport and leisure activities in Stage 3, capacity is still limited to 50 patrons in the building at one time, including in a multi-sport complex like the PRC.

Given the staffing, cleaning and maintenance costs required to operate the PRC, opening all amenities in the building will not be sustainable until the Province provides additional clarity on the indoor gathering rules for large recreation facilities.

As a result, the PRC will remain closed for sport and leisure activities until further notice. Staff are working with the Provincial government and Huron Perth Public Health to develop a re-opening plan that is suitable for the facility and safe for the community.

Yard Sales

In May, Council placed a temporary ban on yard sales. Council will reconsider this ban at its meeting on Tuesday, July 28, given that outdoor gatherings can include up to 100 people in Stage 3.

Updates and information

All dates and details mentioned in this release are subject to change. Updates will be posted to the Town website (townofstmarys.com/covid19), Facebook page (facebook.com/stmarysontario) and Twitter account (twitter.com/townofstmarys), and will be shared in our weekly column in the St. Marys Independent Newspaper. Questions about the Town’s re-opening plans can be directed to communications@town.stmarys.on.ca or 519-284-2340.

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Contact

Brett O’Reilly | Corporate Communications & Events Manager
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | boreilly@town.stmarys.on.ca