Town’s recreation facilities reopening in stages

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Recreational activities are returning to Strathmore one facility at a time.

The Town of Strathmore announced the reopening schedule of several recreational facilities across town, as part of the town’s relaunch from COVID-19 shutdowns. 

Each facility will have new protocols in place to incorporate the province’s COVID-19 guidelines, according to town administration. These will affect how residents register for activities and how many people can participate in a given activity, among other changes.

“We’re cleaning and disinfecting the facilities and preparing to safely welcome you back,” said Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule in a Facebook live address on July 9.

The Strathmore Family Centre and the Strathmore Civic Centre reopened on July 13.

At the Family Centre, the blue Arena will be open to user groups. Recreational skating will restart on July 20, but participation will require pre-registration through the online PerfectMind system (strathmore.perfectmind.com).

For now, the town is keeping the change rooms closed.

“When the blue arena opens next week, we’ll be asking patrons to come into the building with their gear on, then lace up their skates once they’re in the building,” said Geoff Person, communications strategist with the town, in a statement.

Two of the three halls at the Civic Centre will be opened for community rentals.

The Lions Splash Park reopened on July 15. It will be open daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays to Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays. Two lifeguards will monitor the site and perform sanitization duties. Public restrooms will be available. As the electrical system was destroyed by a vehicle collision with the town’s pumphouse, it will be powered by a small generator.

The Strathmore Aquatic Centre is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Aug. 10. The Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre will host summer camps starting on July 20 and is scheduled to reopen to the public on Aug. 17.

All recreation memberships were put on hold when the facilities were closed in March, and will be “unpaused” once each facility opens.