Sports fields, dog park now open in Bonnyville; playgrounds opening shortly

Pontiac Park, along with the Town’s other playgrounds, will be open to the public soon. 

Sports fields including ball diamonds and soccer fields and the dog park are now open in Bonnyville and playgrounds will follow suit soon.

Bonnyville town council moved to open these spaces with playgrounds opening as late as June 1.

Mayor Gene Sobolewski said the playgrounds will open after their yearly standards inspection.

“We don’t normally close them. But so they’re just going to be undertaking the inspections at the same time, but the council mandated that between today [Wednesday] and to June 1, there’ll be an effort to move those things and get the playground portions open,” he said.

The Town had temporarily closed these facilities and the rodeo grounds on April 14 following recommendations from the province.

Signage will be posted at playgrounds that reinforces physical distancing and washing your hands before and after using, as the equipment will not be sanitized.

CAO Mark Power said during the council meeting that the Town doesn’t anticipate the splash park will be open this year because it falls under the category of a pool.

Pools are not currently allowed to open under the chief medical officer’s public health rules.

The rodeo grounds will also remain closed for the time being.