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HomeNewsMemorial Gardens set to reopen for limited ice rentals

Memorial Gardens set to reopen for limited ice rentals

The City of North Bay will be reopening Memorial Gardens on Aug. 4, with COVID-19 protocols in place.

The move will allow ice rentals to businesses and organizations only.

“We’re pleased to be able to reopen one of our arenas in order to provide groups and businesses the opportunity to return to the ice,” said Coun. Johanne Brousseau, Chair of Council’s Community Services Committee. “Work to restore the ice surface at Memorial Gardens will get underway in the next couple of weeks.”

This is part of a phased reopening of arenas that will involve ongoing monitoring and review in accordance with provincial COVID-19 restrictions.

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“It is an exciting time,” shared Brousseau. “It’s basically our first facility that we will be opening. Hopefully, we will have a continuation of that in the fall and have more facilities opening up for our citizens to enjoy and to keep active.”

Opening dates for the Pete Palangio and West Ferris arenas have not yet been determined.

“Right now Pete Palangio is used as a homeless shelter and accommodates them until the end of July. When that ends, we will need major prepping and a big sanitization and cleaning effort before we start to get ready for the ice-making, and eventually bringing the public back in.”

As per provincial orders, ice rentals at Memorial Gardens will be limited to businesses and organizations.

A maximum of 30 skaters and up to five instructors/coaches will be permitted to be involved in each session. Spectators will not be permitted, with the exception of one parent per family to attend to and supervise their child/children.

“In the summer, Pete Palangio has both of its ice surfaces used for summer training. We also have a number of local businesses in town that do hockey schools and utilize the ice. By August 10, Memorial Gardens opens up for the start of figure skating season, and then the Batallion, and the Lakers, etc.” said Brousseau.

All individuals must maintain social distancing. No scrimmages or games will be permitted, only skills and drills. There will be no dryland training permitted within the facility and all players must arrive dressed, as access to dressing rooms will not be available.

The City’s COVID-19 ice rental protocols have been provided to user groups, which have been asked to apply by July 17 for consideration for times with the period of Aug. 4 and Sept. 6, 2020.
For an up-to-date list of COVID-19-affected municipal services and facilities, please visit https://www.cityofnorthbay.ca/covid-19-information/

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