WINDSOR

Wheatley, Rondeau parks allowed to reopen campsites and beaches soon

Melanie Borrelli

Melanie Kentner CTV Windsor Multi-Skilled Journalist / Digital Lead

@mkentnerctv Contact

Published Wednesday, June 10, 2020 2:55PM EDT

A vacant camp site at Wheatley Provincial Park in Wheatley, Ont., on Thursday, May 16, 2013. (Sacha Long / CTV Windsor)

Text:

WINDSOR, ONT. -- Provincial parks in Chatham-Kent are allowed to reopen campsites and beaches as part of the government's Stage 2 plan.

More facilities and services will be available at Wheatley and Rondeau provincial parks.

Provincial officials say beginning on June 12, and gradually over the next several weeks, Ontario Parks will start opening campgrounds, providing more washrooms and drinking water, along with roofed accommodations, park store and rental operations, visitor centres, and sports fields.

"Due to the tremendous progress we have made to contain the spread of COVID-19, more services and activities will soon be available at our provincial parks," said Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. "While this is encouraging, it is not business as usual. I encourage everyone to be responsible and continue to follow public health advice, including physical distancing, when enjoying our outdoor amenities."

Here’s a list of recreational activities and facilities that will be opening:

On June 12, beaches at Ontario Parks will begin opening to the public as maintenance and water testing are completed.
On June 15, campers enrolled in this year's Ontario Parks' Seasonal Campsite Program will now have access to their campsites at the majority of participating provincial parks. Those who were preselected in 2019 for the program will be contacted by Ontario Parks directly regarding the status of their reservation.
Beginning the week of June 22, all other campgrounds in regions entering Stage 2 will gradually open at provincial parks, along with washrooms, water taps and trailer sanitation stations.
Roofed accommodations (e.g., yurts, cabins and lodges, where available), park store and rental operations, visitor centers, and sports fields will be phased in over the next several weeks.
Facilities such as showers, laundry, group camping, picnic shelter rentals and swimming pools will remain closed for the rest of the 2020 season.

Some parks opened starting May 15 for limited recreational day-use activities.

Visitors should check OntarioParks.com to see what facilities and services are available before visiting a provincial park.

To help protect visitors and staff, Ontario Parks will be implementing measures to address overcrowding and promote physical distancing in park spaces and buildings during busy visitation times, by limiting occupancy for day-use and camping in select provincial parks.

This may include limiting the number of daily vehicle permits sold or the number of campsites available for reservations.

Ministry officers will be present in provincial parks to provide information, assist with emergencies and enforce provincial park rules and regulations.