June 30, 2020: More programs and amenities reopening at Grand River Parks in July The GRCA will reopen additional programs and amenities in its Grand River Parks beginning in July. Starting July 10, select Grand River Parks including Brant, Byng Island, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Rockwood conservation areas will offer limited overnight camping. To support this, the GRCA camping reservation system will reopen on July 6 at 9:00 a.m. for online bookings only. Conestogo Lake and Laurel Creek conservation areas will not offer overnight camping in 2020. Campers who have previously made reservations at these two parks will be contacted directly regarding their refund. While more washrooms will open in campgrounds, there will be no shower facilities or group camping available this year. In addition to governmental and public health guidelines, there are a number of considerations the GRCA is taking into account when making decisions on which programs and amenities it is able to reopen, and the associated timelines. These include health and safety, staffing, managing capacity, enforcement challenges, as well as financial considerations. Below is an overview of what’s open and closed in Grand River Parks this summer: Open now most Grand River Parks (with the exception of the Elora Quarry Conservation Area) are now open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; gatehouses are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

beaches

some washrooms in day use areas only

Grand River Parks memberships are available for purchase at gatehouses during gatehouse operating hours, as well as online

seasonal boat launch passes are available for purchase at the Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake gatehouses during operating hours Opening in July the camping reservation system will reopen on July 6 at 9 a.m. for online bookings only

overnight camping at Brant, Byng Island, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake, Pinehurst Lake and Rockwood conservation areas will reopen on July 10

some washrooms in overnight camping areas Closed for 2020 the Elora Quarry Conservation Area

the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area

swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas

overnight camping at Conestogo Lake and Laurel Creek conservation areas

all showers and change rooms

washrooms in seasonal camping areas

all pavilions, picnic shelters and other group facilities

all playground equipment

all food concession stands

group camping

the Learn to Fish program

the fishing equipment rental program and the life jacket loaner program Closed until further notice boat, canoe and kayak rentals at all conservation areas

tubing at Elora Gorge Conservation Area A decision regarding these amenities is anticipated by July 10. Visitors should check www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ for information about which facilities and services are available before visiting Grand River Parks. If visitors have further questions, they are asked to contact the parks directly. For more information, please see the latest media release. June 19, 2020: Reminder – Grand River Parks Need to Know As we start to see more summer-like weather, visitors are reminded that experiences at Grand River Parks will be different this year. Our parks are operating at a reduced capacity, and we are implementing a number of measures to address overcrowding and promote physical distancing. This includes limiting the number of daily visitors. If capacity is reached, our parks will close early. Please note Grand River Parks are very busy on weekends. If you are able, please consider visiting at a less busy time. If you do visit our parks, garbage bins are available and will be emptied as frequently as possible. However, people are asked to visit responsibly and if garbage bins are full, to take their waste with them and dispose of it at home. A reminder that Belwood Lake, Conestogo Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas are subject to orders in place by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit. All visitors who enter gatehouses and public washrooms in these parks must wear a face covering. Currently Open Grand River Parks (except Elora Quarry) are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

gatehouses are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily

beaches and swimming areas where applicable

washrooms in day use areas only Closed until further notice the Elora Quarry Conservation Area

boat, canoe and kayak rentals

pavilions, picnic shelters and other group facilities

playground equipment

overnight camping, including group camping

tubing and the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area

showers and change rooms

washrooms not in day use areas

the Learn to Fish program

the fishing equipment rental program and the life jacket loaner program Closed for the remainder of the 2020 season swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas

food concession stands For further details, please check www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ, and if you have further questions, please contact the parks directly. The GRCA will make a decision on its ability to offer other recreational activities, such as overnight camping, by the end of June. June 16, 2020: More amenities reopening at Grand River Parks The GRCA has begun to open gatehouses, beaches and some washrooms in most of its conservation areas. The Ontario government recently announced more businesses and services are permitted to reopen, provided that the proper health and safety measures are in place. The Province’s announcement currently applies to most conservation areas within the Grand River watershed, with Byng Island in Haldimand County entering this stage beginning June 19. Local health units may have additional requirements that must be followed. “As the GRCA reopens more amenities and activities for visitors in our Grand River Parks, the health and safety of staff and the community remain our highest priority,” says GRCA Chair Helen Jowett. “We are pleased to reopen more amenities, and while this is good news, it’s also important to remember it will not be business as usual in our parks this year. As always, we encourage people to be responsible so that we can continue to offer an enjoyable experience for all visitors.” In light of the province’s recent announcements, the GRCA will make a decision on its ability to offer activities, such as overnight camping, in the near future. A decision on overnight camping is anticipated by the end of June, and will be communicated via the GRCA’s website, social media channels and through the news media. The following is a list of parks and recreational activities that have currently reopened: most Grand River Parks are now open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; gatehouses are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

beaches and washrooms in day use areas only

Grand River Parks memberships are available for purchase at gatehouses during gatehouse operating hours, as well as online

seasonal boat launch passes will be available for purchase at the Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake gatehouses during operating hours Visitors should check www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ for information about which facilities and services are available before visiting Grand River Parks. If visitors have further questions, they are asked to contact the parks directly. The following GRCA conservation areas, facilities and programs remain closed until further notice, including: the Elora Quarry Conservation Area

boat, canoe and kayak rentals

pavilions, picnic shelters and other group facilities

playground equipment

overnight camping, including group camping

tubing and the splash pad at Elora Gorge Conservation Area

showers and change rooms

washrooms not in day use areas

the Learn to Fish program

the fishing equipment rental program and the life jacket loaner program The following facilities and programs will remain closed for the remainder of the 2020 season, including: swimming pools at Brant and Byng Island conservation areas

food concession stands To help protect both staff and visitors, the GRCA will be implementing a number of measures to address overcrowding and promote physical distancing in its parks and facilities. This may include limiting the number of daily visitors and increased patrols. Visitors should be aware that parking is limited, and while garbage receptacles are now available and will be emptied as frequently as possible, people are reminded to visit responsibly and if garbage bins are full, to take their waste with them and dispose of it at home. Furthermore, Belwood Lake, Conestogo Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas are subject to orders in place by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit. All visitors who enter a commercial establishment, including Grand River Park gatehouses and public washrooms in these areas, must wear a face covering. Like many organizations and businesses across Ontario, the GRCA has needed to adapt its operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even where the Province and the local health units permit an activity to occur or facility to open, the GRCA may determine that certain activities will not occur and certain facilities will not open on GRCA properties. As an organization, the GRCA must consider both its ability to meet the government’s public health safety guidelines, as well as the financial feasibility of permitting certain activities and/or opening facilities, when making decisions about which programs and services it is able to provide in 2020. June 9, 2020: Belwood Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas temporarily closed until June 15 The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has closed Belwood Lake, Elora Gorge, Guelph Lake and Rockwood conservation areas and will reopen them again on Monday, June 15. Brant, Byng Island, Conestogo Lake, Laurel Creek, Pinehurst Lake and Shade’s Mills conservation areas, as well as Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, are not impacted by this temporary closure. Elora Quarry Conservation Area remains closed until further notice. Over the past few weeks, several Grand River Parks have experienced significant challenges with the number of visitors in attendance. In addition, some visitors are not following rules and are disregarding provincial guidelines established to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Beyond people not respecting area closures, congregating in large groups and not practicing appropriate physical distancing measures, a considerable amount of garbage and other waste is being left throughout the parks and natural areas. It has also been noted that some people are accessing the conservation areas without paying the standard entrance fees. While it is often thought that the GRCA’s Grand River Parks are funded through tax dollars, this is not the case. These areas are able to operate only on the funds they receive through gate access fees, camping revenue, and pay-for-use items like canoe and kayak rentals. All of these challenges have put further strain on the GRCA’s already limited resources. “Given the limited staff that the GRCA currently has in place, and the work we need to complete in order to prepare our conservation areas for additional activities, we are temporarily closing the parks where we’ve had the most significant challenges,” says Pam Walther-Mabee, Manager of Conservation Areas. “We are taking this action so that our staff can focus on completing this work, rather than managing capacity and enforcement issues.” Additional activities and services On Monday, June 8, the Ontario government announced more businesses and services will be permitted to reopen as of June 12 in many regions of the province that will enter Stage 2 in the government’s the reopening framework. This announcement applies to most conservation areas within the Grand River watershed, with the exception of Byng Island in Haldimand County, which remains in Stage 1 at this time. Beginning June 15, the GRCA will begin to open beaches and some washrooms in most of its conservation areas, except Byng Island. In light of the province’s recent announcement, the GRCA will also be making a decision on its ability to offer additional activities, such as overnight camping in the near future. A decision on overnight camping is anticipated by the end of June, and will be communicated via the GRCA’s website, social media channels and through the news media. “As the GRCA reopens, the health and safety of staff and the community remain our highest priority. In addition to our ability to meet the government’s new public health and safety requirements, as a board, we will also need to consider the financial feasibility of reopening these additional activities,” says GRCA Chair Helen Jowett. “Like many organizations and businesses across Ontario, the GRCA’s operations have changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in Ontario, and follow the guidance of federal and provincial governments and public health authorities. However, even where the province and the local health units permit an activity to occur or facility to open, the GRCA may determine that certain activities will not occur and certain facilities will not open on GRCA properties. For more information about which GRCA properties are open and closed to the public, and what activities are permissible, please visit www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ. June 6, 2020: GRCA reminding visitors to respect rules and restrictions On Saturday, June 6, several Grand River Parks experienced significant challenges with visitors who were not following rules and respecting restrictions and closures. GRCA staff reported people not respecting area closures, people on beaches and people not practicing appropriate physical distancing measures. Further to this, a considerable amount of garbage and other waste was left throughout the conservation areas, in particular at Guelph Lake. As a result, Guelph Lake will not open until 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 7, due to the amount of clean up that is required. Should the GRCA continue to experience significant challenges in its conservation areas with visitors not respecting the rules in place, access will be restricted or the areas may be forced to close altogether. Visitors are reminded that: the Elora Quarry Conservation Area remains closed until further notice

until further notice other Grand River Parks are open for limited recreational activities (hiking, birdwatching, fishing, boating) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with the exception of Guelph Lake on June 7, which will open at 10 a.m.)

parking is limited; if capacity is reached, access will be restricted

people should plan for short visits to ensure the space can be shared; if the areas are busy, people should leave and return at another time

all beaches and swimming areas are closed

all buildings and on-site facilities, including washrooms, gatehouses, picnic areas and playgrounds remain closed; no equipment rentals are available

no garbage receptacles are available and visitors must carry any garbage or pet waste out with them

physical distancing is required; people should stay at least two metres or six feet apart, and are not to congregate in groups

some portions of the conservation areas are not accessible

visitors must obey all signage and keep their pets on a leash at all times Standard entrance fees apply. At Shades’ Mills and Laurel Creek conservation areas, visitors may enter with a valid Grand River Parks membership pass or can pay by credit card at the automatic gate. At the other conservation areas without an automatic gate, visitors may enter with a valid Grand River Parks membership pass or must pay by cash (exact change only) in payment boxes located at the gatehouses. Standard boat launch fees for motor boats at Belwood Lake and Conestogo Lake conservation areas apply and must also be paid upon entry. June 4, 2020: GRCA cancelling all summer day camps Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the GRCA has made the decision to cancel its day camps for the summer of 2020. The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, and follow the guidance of federal and provincial governments and public health authorities in Ontario. On June 2, 2020, the provincial government released its public health guidelines for the safe operation of day camps in Ontario. Upon review of the guidelines, the GRCA has determined that the restrictions would significantly impact its ability to deliver quality day camp programs in the current COVID-19 environment. On March 16, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) closed all of its nature centres to the public and cancelled its March Break Camps. All events, like birthday parties, were also cancelled. The GRCA’s day camp programs were developed pre-pandemic, and include large gatherings both indoor and outdoor, as well as in-person interactive activities. The health and safety of our staff and campers remain our highest priority and the restrictions would significantly impact our ability to deliver quality day camp programs in the current COVID-19 environment.The GRCA has a low threshold for risk when it comes to the safety of our campers and staff. We feel that erring on the side of health and safety is the right decision, given the style of programming that we are known for. All registrants affected by cancelled programming will be receiving a full refund in the coming weeks, and are being contacted directly. The GRCA encourages families to visit its Connect with Nature at Home webpage for a list of nature activities they can do together at home or in their local park, while practicing appropriate physical distancing measures. At this time, all GRCA nature centres and their surrounding property remain closed to the public and all events are cancelled until further notice. For complete details about which GRCA properties are open and closed to the public, and what activities are permissible, please visit www.grandriver.ca/COVID19-FAQ.