GUELPH-ERAMOSA – The region’s move into the province’s orange COVID-19 zone will likely have a significant impact on recreation and facility rentals here.
On March 22, Guelph- Eramosa staff members provided verbal updates to council on township operations.
Parks and recreation director Robin Milne, explained the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health region’s move that day from the COVID-19 red zone to orange zone will translate into capacity increases at the Royal Distributing Athletics Performance Centre (RDAPC) in Marden.
As of March 22, up to 25 people are allowed on the facility’s track at a time, Milne stated.
Also, the field has been split into two smaller, separate fields with their own entrances, which used to hold up to 10 people per side for 20 minutes. The capacity now is 25 people per side, for 50 minutes.
Sports leagues are also able to resume.
“You can do scrimmage, you can do smaller area games, you can do battle drills, you can do competitions,” Milne told council.
Leagues opening back up also changes renter interest, said Milne.
Red rentals are continuing for the rest of the week, he added, and as of March 29, original rentals will resume.
Some leagues weren’t able to finish their fall season and will do so in April or May, Milne said.
For facilities, like Rockmosa in Rockwood and other pavilions, capacity has also increased.
“Essentially we are going to be pushing through two years’ worth of weddings in one year,” said Milne, noting numbers are more flexible for outdoor weddings and therefore interest has increased.
“Hopefully we can continue to move through the framework in the right direction and not back into red.”
