With summer in full swing, Metro Vancouver is reminding the public to enjoy the outdoors responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regional parks remain open and have received over 8 million visitors this year, but too many visitors are neglecting physical distancing guidelines.
Beach parks, especially White Pine Beach at Sasamat Lake in Belcarra Regional Park and Boundary Bay Regional Park, have experienced high demand, especially on weekends, leading to local traffic, parking and physical distancing challenges.
Parks visitors are asked to follow these guidelines:
- Choose parks in your own area – do not travel across the region
- Avoid beach parks – explore nearby trail-based parks instead
- Walk, bike, or take transit to avoid contributing to traffic and parking issues
- Maintain physical distance of at least two metres from others at all times, including in parking lots
- Dispose of tissues and other waste in designated garbage bins
- Pack it in, pack it out – do not leave any items behind in parks
- Wash or sanitize hands frequently during the day and upon returning home
- Stay home if you are sick
All Metro Vancouver Regional Parks are open with increased staff patrols, sanitation of high-touch surfaces and traffic management. Parking restrictions are in place at select parks and municipalities have ramped up parking enforcement in residential areas near regional parks.
Metro Vancouver continues to monitor and reassess the status of each regional park on an ongoing basis.
Check Metro Vancouver’s website for the latest parks advisories.
