Toronto outdoor sport field season extended due to COVID-19
TORONTO, ON., Aug 27, 2020 — Toronto extends outdoor sport field season — Toronto’s active sports enthusiasts can enjoy playing on City run fields well into the fall as today, the City of Toronto announced the extension of the outdoor sport field season.
The City says outdoor sport and multi-use fields will remain open until Sunday, October 25 and permits will be issued for the remainder of the 2020 season. Normally the outdoor sports field season shuts down in September
“Our parks, sports fields and other outdoor recreation amenities are so important to residents – they are the hearts of so many neighbourhoods across the city,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory.
“I’m proud that we have worked to extend the outdoor field season, which was shortened by COVID-19, so that residents will continue to have the opportunity to safely train and practice across Toronto this Fall,” said Tory.
Incredibly, Toronto has almost 700 City-run sport fields at more than 170 locations city-wide.
As a result of pandemic-related restrictions, many of the City’s outdoor sport and multi-use fields opened super late for team training this year on July 6. The outdoor sport field season usually concludes in September. Despite City staff’s quick work to open these outdoor recreation amenities as part of Toronto’s Stage 2 reopening, the season was significantly shortened.
While the season will be extended as part of Toronto’s Stage 3 reopening, both the types of activities and the number of people allowed on the field will continue to be restricted to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The City of Toronto say their staff continue to work closely with Toronto Public Health to ensure that people can train safely at the City’s outdoor sport and multi-use fields. To allow for physical distancing and comply with provincial orders restricting gatherings, the capacity at the City’s outdoor sport and multi-use fields remains reduced to 100 people per field. That includes participants and coaches, as well as parents, guardians and other spectators.
All City outdoor sport and multi-use fields offer team training and games, with leagues capped at 50 participants to comply with provincial restrictions. Players should continue to use individual equipment wherever possible and permit holders should ensure that any provided equipment is cleaned between use. Permit holders continue to be required to maintain attendance records to facilitate Toronto Public Health contact tracing if needed.
More information about recreation opportunities in Toronto is available at toronto.ca/rec. Information about permits for outdoor recreation facilities is available online.
SOURCE City of Toronto
lead photo Centennial Park, City of Toronto
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