Pools, City Hall to open as province enters Step One of recovery; weekend downtown road closures return June 18

As Niagara joins the rest of Ontario in entering Step One of the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen, some City facilities will open to the public while maintaining a focus on visitor safety.

Residents can now book appointments to access City Hall services when the building reopens on Monday, June 14. Residents can book their appointment with Planning and Building Services; Legal and Clerks Services; Citizens First and parking services online at stcatharines.ca/CitizensFirst or by calling 905.688.5600.

With indoor aquatics facilities remaining closed the City will move ahead to open outdoor pools earlier than typically scheduled. Both Lincoln Park Pool and Port Dalhousie Pool will open Saturday, June 12 from noon until 8 p.m.

Going forward, starting on June 13, Port Dalhousie Pool will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lincoln Park Pool will be open on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. COVID-19 safety protocols and booking requirements are in place. Please visit stcatharines.ca/OutdoorPools for more information.

Lion Dunc Schooley Pool will open as originally scheduled on June 30.

The City will also extend splash pad hours, opening them from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily starting on June 12.

Outdoor sports fields will be available for rentals for up to 10 people.

“We’re excited to be welcoming back the public to these facilities, especially as the weather heats up and staying cool becomes more important. Our staff have been busy getting ready to do what they do best, providing the safe opportunity to swim and learn, while remaining focused on delivering these important services in a manner that protects public health,” said Director of Community, Recreation and Cultural Services Phil Cristi.

Residents are reminded that while recovery efforts are underway, COVID-19 remains a real threat to community health. Individuals should continue to follow Public Health direction including physical distancing, limiting of gatherings, proper hand hygiene, and getting vaccinated when possible.

Downtown road closures

As restaurants and bars reopen patios, the City will move forward on Council-approved weekend temporary downtown road closures, allowing for expanded patios and outdoor businesses operations. The City is once again working with the St. Catharines Downtown Association on the weekend closures which will begin June 18 at 4 p.m.

“We’re inviting all our residents to get out and support local businesses while remaining safe. As a City we’re committed to doing all we can to help businesses, including the hard-hit hospitality sector, in post-pandemic recovery. Placemaking efforts like this not only draw more attention to the contributions of businesses in rejuvenating our downtown core, but also assist in providing expanded operations for these important members of our community,” said Director of Economic Development and Tourism Services Brian York.

Closures will run on weekends until Oct. 9, on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

St. Paul Street will be closed from William to Carlisle Street and from Bond Street to Court Street. James Street will be closed from St. Paul Street to King Street.

At the same time the City is continuing to run its expanded temporary outdoor patio program in 2021. For more information visit stcatharines.ca/TemporaryPatios.

Contact: CitizensFirst@stcatharines.ca