Once again, the City of Toronto will paint circles on the grass at Trinity Bellwoods Park as a guideline for the park's visitors to practice physical distancing.
The City says installation of the circles will begin next week, depending on weather conditions, as the paint requires dry and sunny weather in order to properly cure.
In 2020, the circles didn't arrive to the park until the end of May; if next week's scheduling goes according to plan, this year will see the markers arrive an entire month earlier.
"We continue to work to give people safe outdoor places to get outside for fresh air and exercise during the pandemic," said Mayor John Tory. "We know Trinity Bellwoods is a popular park so we're proactively putting the circles in place this year to help make sure we're encouraging people to be safe."
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Currently, the province of Ontario is under a Stay-at-Home order, which requires residents to remain at home except for essential reasons including accessing groceries, getting exercise, attending medical appointments, or receiving a vaccine.
With respect to the order, the City says it recognizes many residents who live in apartments or condos don't have access to yards, and need spaces in city parks where exercise and fresh air are possible. Because Trinity Bellwoods is such a popular downtown location, the painted circles aim to help keep people safe while there.
"We know that opportunities to exercise and play outdoors are critical for our mental and physical health. As the spring season continues, we are focussing on making sure that Torontonians can get outside while staying safe. By wearing masks and distancing, people can enjoy our parks and recreational amenities without putting others at risk," says Toronto City Councillor and Chair of the Toronto Board of Health, Joe Cressy.
"These circles at Trinity Bellwoods will help visitors enjoy the park while also staying apart and protecting one another."
Across Toronto, there are more than 1,500 parks. In order to avoid crowding, the City is encouraging residents to visit parks local to them, instead of travelling to a further destination park.
"If a park or amenity such as a playground is crowded, people should visit another park or return at another time," officials say.
