New Westminster’s one regional park space remains open – and visitors are being reminded to do their part to keep it that way.
Sapperton Landing, which is part of the Brunette-Fraser Regional Greenway, is located along the Fraser River, with access from the foot of Cumberland Street at East Columbia Street.
In the face of a number of Metro Vancouver regional park and parking lot closures, the local park and greenway remain open. (For full park closure details, see http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/covid-19/Pages/default.aspx)
However, the dock and picnic shelter at Sapperton Landing are closed.
The park also sports much high-visibility signage reminding people to properly social distance in order to keep the region’s natural spaces open.
“We recognize that spending time in nature is an effective way to reduce stress and support physical and mental well-being, and our goal is to continue to provide the regional parks service that is such an important part of so many peoples' daily health routines,” says the Metro Vancouver regional parks website.
Park visitors are asked to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from other people, including in parking lots and at trail entrances, and to comply with all closures of playgrounds, picnic shelters and other features.
If you’re sick, you’re asked to stay home and not visit parks until you are well.
“Metro Vancouver will continue to monitor and manage visitor behaviour in all of its parks and will take the necessary action to protect public health and safety throughout the system,” says the website. “Staff are reassessing the status of each regional park on an ongoing basis and we will close regional parks where the safety rules are not being followed.”
