Cobourg Council Temporarily Closes Beach to Discourage Congregation

Pete Fisher
4 years ago
• Categories: City Hall, Local

During a Special Emergency Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 it was decided that Cobourg’s Victoria Park Beach will be temporarily closed to the public until June 7, 2021.

This Council decision is an interim measure to assist in the mitigation of community spread,
limiting out of town travel and to discourage individuals from congregating in one place in
alignment with the current Provincewide Stay-At-Home Order.

Although provincial beaches fall under the same category as parks under the province’s guidelines
for outdoor recreation, due to the size and popularity of Victoria Park Beach lingering and
congregating on this popular warm-weather spot is inevitable.

“These decisions are not easy and I appreciate everyone’s time and recommendations including
the Town of Cobourg’s Emergency Control Group and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge
District Health Unit,” said Mayor John Henderson for the Town of Cobourg. “Our beach is already
seeing hundreds of visitors daily and with the upcoming long weekend we want to ensure our
community remains safeguarded against further potential spread of this virus.”

Municipal Council will convene once more at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday,
May 31st to make a final decision in respect to the continued operations of the Victoria Park Beach
moving forward.

Although the Victoria Park Beach will remain temporarily closed, the boardwalk and over 230+
acres of green space including 15 playgrounds, 28 parks, and an off leash dog park, trails and
conservation areas will remain open. Residents are encouraged to continue exercising and to ‘walk
through’ these open public spaces but not to ‘lay towels down on the sand’ for the day.

Mayor Henderson adds: “I echo the Honourable Sylvia Jones when she states that we are so close
to getting the vast majority of people vaccinated and to not throw all the good work we’ve done
away by congregating this May long weekend.”

Shortly after the Solicitor General’s warning the Cobourg Police Services’ Chief of Police Paul
VandeGraaf says his service will continue to take a balanced approach when called about private
gatherings and will only ticket or charge when necessary. “We know that there are a small
percentage of individuals who overtly continue to breach the Reopening Act of Ontario. Our Police
Officers and the Town of Cobourg’s Bylaw Enforcement Officers will use their best judgement to
protect our community.”

On Thursday, May 20, 2021, Town of Cobourg Parks staff will begin to fence off Victoria Park Beach complete with
signage and emergency exits located at either end. In order to ensure the crew’s safety please
allow for physical distancing while the fencing is being installed.