Surrey to reopen outdoor pools, spray parks, beaches starting this month

Spray parks, outdoor pools, and beaches in Surrey will be reopening just in time for summer.

The City of Surrey announced on Wednesday that a number of city-owned facilities will open over the course of June and July.

On June 15, the spray parks at Bear Creek Park, Fleetwood Park, South Surrey Athletic Park, Cloverdale Athletic Park, Unwin Park, Erma Stephenson Park, Goldstone Park, Newton Athletic Park, Bridgeview Park, and Hazelgrove Park will open.

The outdoor pools at Kwantlen Park, Bear Creek Park, Hjorth Road Park, and Greenaway Park will open on June 27. Lifeguard services at Crescent Beach will also begin on that day.

On July 4, the outdoor pools at Sunnyside Park, Unwin Park, Port Kells Park, and Holly Park will open to the public.

Mayor Doug McCallum adds that visitors can do their part by continuing to practice physical distancing and bringing their own hand sanitizer.

“As a former competitive swimmer, lifeguard and a lifelong water sports enthusiast, I fully recognize the importance of having aquatic amenities during the sunny summer months,” said Mayor Doug McCallum.

“With the ongoing pandemic, we have made some adjustments to ensure for health and safety, and you can help us by observing physical distancing and bringing your own hand sanitizer with you.”

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The City adds that pools will offer modified public swims and community swimming lessons. Visitors can expect additional preventative measures such as reduced swimming capacity, distance markings, and enhanced first aid and lifeguard rescue procedures.

Surrey’s COVID-19 compliance and enforcement team will also be monitoring the sites if any concerns are observed. Visitors are also being reminded that they should avoid crowds and gatherings if they’re sick.

During Tuesday’s daily press conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry hinted that the opening of outdoor pools was something that British Columbia could “look forward to in the coming weeks.”

Henry, as well as the US Centre for Disease Control, says that there’s no evidence of COVID-19 spreading in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds.

“This virus doesn’t transmit in especially chlorinated or ozonated water or saltwater,” says Henry.

“The risk is people coming together around the pool and in the locker room… there will need to be measures in place to reduce numbers to make sure that we’re not having close contact with people in the locker rooms.