Sherwood Park, AB. — As part of Phase 1 of the Alberta Government’s relaunch strategy, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) is re-opening its playgrounds over the next two weeks.

Playgrounds in Sherwood Park, Ardrossan, Uncas and Fultonvale fall under the authority of Strathcona County, which announced outdoor recreational facilities will open on May 22.

School-owned playgrounds in jurisdictions outside of Strathcona County will open by June 5. Before opening, EIPS will remove warning tape and install informational signage at each playground location.

For those families visiting playgrounds, be aware the use of the equipment may have risks. Neither Strathcona County nor EIPS are sanitizing the equipment. Additionally, children may forget to avoid touching their faces while using the playground and may not maintain social distancing.

When using playground equipment:

• Social distancing requirements and Alberta Health Services’ gathering restrictions still apply. Individuals from different households should remain at least two metres apart, and no more than 50 people can gather in the vicinity of the playground equipment at any one time.
• Children should use hand sanitizer after touching equipment and wash their hands both before and after visiting the playground.
• It’s recommended families use the equipment located closest to their own homes to reduce the number of people using playground sites at any given time.
• If any individual in a household is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, family members must not visit the playground.

While the rate of infections and hospitalizations has decreased in recent days, it’s still possible to contract COVID-19. As such, community members must take the necessary precautions when using playground equipment to avoid getting sick.

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For more information contact:

Laura McNabb, Director, Communication Services, EIPS 780-417-8204 cell 780-405-4902