BC Parks has announced the immediate closure of all provincial parks just ahead of the Easter long weekend.
The closure includes popular local hiking spots on the Sunshine Coast like Sargeant Bay and the Skookumchuck as well as parks with beach access like Porpoise Bay and Roberts Creek and all the marine parks in the area.
The BC Parks website entries for those parks now contain the notice of closure, specifying that it includes all associated access such as trails and parking lots.
“This decision has been made to ensure the continued health and safety of BC Parks visitors, employees, park contractors, volunteers and partners, and to support efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” the notice says.
In a release announcing the move, BC Parks said, “While many people are observing the physical distancing requirements set by the provincial health officer, some continue to ignore the order, making enforcement in a wilderness setting challenging.”
The agency said the decision was “informed by continued feedback from RCMP, local government, First Nations, local search-and-rescue organizations and the general public” and is also a response to federal and provincial directives that people should stay close to home to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk.”
“Because physical distancing works, it is critical that we take every action needed to restrict the spread of COVID-19,” said Environment Minister George Heyman.
“This applies to British Columbians and out-of-province visitors who were planning to visit or stay at our provincial parks. The message is clear: stay home, avoid travel, do not put yourself or others at risk," Heyman said.
“We tried to provide safe space for people to get some exercise and fresh air in our beautiful parks. But it has proven too challenging to maintain safe distance between visitors. This action is difficult but necessary.”
The closure of provincial parks is the latest in a series of efforts to discourage non-essential travel. Local government leaders and Sunshine Coast Tourism have been telling visitors and people who own second properties on the Coast not to come, and BC Ferries has issued notices to passengers “to avoid non-essential travel at this time.”
In a joint statement following their April 7 briefing, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, said, “This long weekend, we need to stay home, to stay in our communities and to stay at a safe physical distance from others when outside. Avoiding unnecessary travel, particularly to smaller communities, where they may be unable to support you if you get sick and where they have fewer resources, is an important way we can protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
Henry has not, however, issued an outright order banning non-essential travel within the province.
