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Response to COVID-19: Update to facility bookings and recreation programming
The Halifax Regional Municipality continues to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving impacts of COVID-19. The following is an update on municipal services.
As directed by the province, new public health guidelines will take effect in the Halifax Regional Municipality and surrounding communities as of Friday, April 23.
HRCE school bookings
The municipality coordinates facility bookings for all Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) schools for community and extracurricular school use. Rentals at all HRCE sites will be cancelled from Friday, April 23 until at least Thursday, May 20.
Facility rentals, sports fields and courts
Rentals at municipally owned recreation facilities, community centres, and arenas, will be cancelled, and bookings suspended starting Friday, April 23, at 8 a.m. Rentals at all-weather fields will be cancelled as of today, April 22. Bookings will be suspended until at least Thursday, May 20.
For residents who have a booking that has been cancelled, municipal staff will be in touch in the coming days regarding the status of your account. We ask residents to hold off on contacting staff as they continue to help support ongoing service adjustments related to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Many sports courts have been reopened for the season. As they are reopened, they may be used in compliance with current provincial health orders.
Parks, playgrounds and trails remain open. Users are required to follow public health guidelines at all times.
Recreation programming, gymnasiums, fitness centres & pools
All recreation centres, gymnasiums, fitness centres and pools are closed as of Friday, April 23 until at least May 20. As a result, all indoor recreation programming and services in these facilities are also cancelled. Additionally, municipally-run spring programming is cancelled for the remainder of the season. Once public health restrictions are changed, Parks & Recreation plans to provide alternative recreation delivery options for the spring.
Please contact your local recreation centre and partner facilities for more information on impacts to spring programming and memberships.
Municipal staff will begin contacting spring registrants and facility members on next steps. Your patience is appreciated during this time. Additional questions can be submitted by email to myrec@halifax.ca.
Parks & Recreation is committed to providing recreation programs for all ages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents are reminded they may continue to use REC at Home which offers a variety of activities that you can enjoy with your family – from arts and crafts, to at-home workouts.
For more information on municipal services during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit Halifax.ca/coronavirus.
