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Vancouver parks are feeling the pressure as stir-crazy citizens flock to the city’s beauty spots.

On Tuesday, the park board announced the closure of road access for visitors to Stanley Park as part of their efforts to enforce the physical distancing mandated for the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The park board closed its parking lots on March 22, but that didn’t stop visitors from streaming to the park in high numbers and parking illegally on roadways, creating congestion that affected cyclists and pedestrians, said Malcolm Bromley, the park board’s general manager.

Starting at noon on Wednesday, Stanley Park will be closed indefinitely to vehicles, and signage will be in place on Georgia Street, English Bay and the Stanley Park Causeway to alert motorists. The causeway that provides access to the Lions Gate Bridge will remain open. The Number-19 Metrotown Station-Stanley Park bus, emergency and city service vehicles are excepted from the rule.

Bromley said that park rangers have given 1,600 warnings in the past week to visitors who are not complying with physical distancing, with cyclists and joggers being a particular concern.

Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / PNG

“We’re finding sometimes that joggers and runners are making it difficult for pedestrians, particularly the elderly and those with physical disabilities, or perhaps even a dog,” Bromley said.

Bromley urged runners to make room for pedestrians, avoid conflicts and try to run during off-peak hours. Cyclists are to avoid riding on the seawall and use Stanley Park Drive, which will be free of cars, instead.

There will be limited access for staff of the Rowing Club, Yacht Club, HMCS Discovery, Prospect Point, and Stanley Park Ecology Society via checkpoints at the Georgia Street roundabout, facilitated by Rangers and park board staff.