The splash park in Ponoka is once again open, as of Friday, June 19.
It will be open daily from 10-1 and 1:30-6 with a half hour break each day to allow for Town staff to clean and disinfect the facility.
This process will also take place before it opens each day.
Users are asked to:
Limit the number of individuals on the Splash Park pad to 15 people at a time to allow physical distancing of two metres from others who don’t live in the same household;
Stay two metres away from others on the grassed area around the Splash Park who are not part of your cohort, and limit the number of people on the grassed area at the facility to 85 or less at a time;
Stay home if you have flu-like symptoms, have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days, or have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19;
Avoid touching the spray features as much as possible while using the Splash Park. The water cannons will be turned off until further notice as they require touching to activate;
Limit the length of your visit to one hour or less to allow everyone an opportunity to use the Splash Park, especially on hot days when user demand is high; and
Use hand sanitizer immediately before and after using the Splash Park.
“It’s very important that our citizens continue to follow these requirements when using outdoor recreation facilities so that we can continue to see restrictions eased back and reopen additional facilities,” said Andrew Jones, the Town’s Recreation Coordinator.
He notes that if the Town starts receiving reports of individuals not following public health orders, there is a risk that some of these outdoor facilities may be required to close again to protect public health and safety.
Hudson’s Green and Ponoka Farmers Market Also Reopening – Stage 1 of Town’s relaunch
The town is also taking a phased approach to safely reopening other facilities, such as Hudson’s Green and the Ponoka Farmers Market.
Hudson’s Green Community Centre is now open for public bookings, and the market can resume starting July 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Aquaplex and Racquetball Courts – Stage 2 of Town’s relaunch
Stage 2 of the Town’s recreation relaunch plan will include the reopening of the Ponoka Aquaplex and Racquetball courts (which are located at the Ponoka Arena Complex), however, the exact date for the reopening of these facilities has not yet been determined.
“The Town is in the process of recalling and hiring staff at the Aquaplex before it can reopen to the public,” explained Jones.
More information on the reopening of the Aquaplex and Racquetball Courts will be made available in the coming weeks.
Ponoka Arena Complex – Stage 3 of Town’s relaunch
The Ponoka Arena Complex will be the last Town recreation facility to reopen, as it doesn’t have any bookings during the summer months other than the Farmers Market which will resume operations in the curling rink space on July 1.
The remainder of the Arena Complex will remain closed to the public until the fall. The projected reopening date for the Arena will be September 2020. Further details will be provided as they become available.
For the most up-to-date information on the reopening of Town facilities, please visit the Town website at www.ponoka.ca. If you have questions please phone the Town fffice at 403-783-4431.
