**** HRM Media Release
Response to COVID-19: Beaches and tennis/pickleball courts to reopen
The Halifax Regional Municipality continues to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving effects of COVID-19.
As per the direction of the Province of Nova Scotia, all municipal beaches will be open effective tomorrow, May 16 at 8 a.m. Please note that no lifeguards are present, and residents are cautioned to use the beaches at their own risk. Boat launches at municipal beaches will also be reopening.
Tennis courts are permitted to reopen. Staff will be working to get the tennis and pickleball nets installed in the coming days and your patience is appreciated while this work is completed. All other sport courts (i.e. basketball) remain closed until further notice.
The province-wide burn ban on open fires has been extended to June 1, including domestic burning and beach fires. Outdoor wood burning appliances (e.g. chimineas) and campfires are temporarily permitted for households, from 7 p.m. to midnight, with limitations. Note: Campfires are only permitted in no-permit required zones (must NOT have both water and sewer services). For more details on all limitations, as well as municipal burning rules and regulations, visit halifax.ca.
Provincial public health measures must be followed on all municipal properties. Residents are reminded that police are still authorized to issue tickets for violations under the Emergency Management Act and Health Protection Act. Parks are open for walking and exercise only. Organized sports and gatherings in violation of public health restrictions are not permitted.
The following is a clarification on the details of parks and greenspaces reopening:
School Grounds
- The municipality manages and maintains all sports fields, courts and playgrounds on school properties. With the exception of sports fields and tennis courts for personal use, these facilities remain closed until further notice and no bookings will be permitted.
Bookings
- In order to adhere to provincial public health measures, no bookings of sports fields, ball diamonds, sport courts and artificial turf fields will be permitted until further notice.
Park Assets that are open:
- Parks
- Greenspaces
- Trails
- Beaches
- Sport fields for single household use and exercise
- Tennis and Pickleball sport courts (opening once nets are installed in coming days)
- Municipal cemeteries
- Skate parks
- Off leash dog parks, (Note: Shubie Park beach has reopened)
- Boat launches
- Community gardens
Park Assets that remain closed:
- Sport courts (basketball, etc.)
- Artificial turf fields
- Ball diamonds and sports fields for sporting activities – while the provincial statement indicated that these are permitted to open, the municipality’s standard process is to open these in late May/early June, weather dependent. The municipality will provide additional updates closer to the typical opening dates.
- Sports/running tracks located adjacent to sports fields/artificial turf fields
- Playgrounds
For more information on municipal services during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit Halifax.ca/coronavirus.
