Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg is announcing the resumption of some services, in response to the Province of Manitoba’s Restoring Safe Services plan which was released yesterday.
“The City of Winnipeg began reviewing the Restoring Safe Services plan after it was released by the Province of Manitoba yesterday,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “We ask for patience from businesses and citizens as we move as quickly as possible to meet a very short timeline.”
“Organizational recovery operations will not just be the simple reversal of steps taken during the response phase,” said Jason Shaw, Manager of the City’s Emergency Operations Centre. “Resumption of a closed program, process, or work function needs to be assessed and planned out. We are embarking on a ‘new normal’ where the way we were before COVID-19 may never be quite the same again. While we are beginning to move into recovery operations, we will also need to be ready to respond quickly to any subsequent waves of COVID-19.”
Community Services
All City-owned and operated recreation centres, pools, arenas, and libraries will remain closed until further notice. We are looking at options for re-opening City libraries, as per the Province’s plan; however, we do not have an opening date at this time. We are carefully weighing options that balance the health and safety of our staff and our patrons within these facilities.
Golf Services
Effective Monday, May 4, Kildonan Park, Crescent Drive, and Harbour View golf courses will open and will follow the provincial guidelines, including pre-screening golfers by phone, limiting golfers to one per motorized cart or two per household, and closing ball-washing stations, among other measures.
To reserve a tee time, please phone the golf course directly. Kildonan Park, Crescent Drive, and Harbour View golf courses will begin accepting tee-time bookings at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
The opening of the Windsor Park Golf Course is delayed due to high water levels on the Seine River.
Planning, Property & Development
The City will be posting guidelines for restaurants that wish to establish temporary patio space, as per the Province’s plan. These guidelines, along with online registration form, will be posted on the City’s website tomorrow. City staff will work through the weekend to process registrations, to ensure restaurants are able open their temporary spaces as soon as possible. Temporary patios will be allowed until May 31, and will be re-evaluated at that time to ensure they continue to align with the Province’s plan.
Once the Province enacts Phase 2 of their Restoring Services plan, these temporary patios will no longer be allowed, and an application will need to be submitted for a permanent patio space.
Public Works
Effective Monday, May 4, all City-owned play structures and picnic shelters will open as per the Province’s plan. We will also be opening skate parks, tennis courts, basketball courts, and athletic fields (soccer, baseball, football, etc.); however, members of the public are reminded that these are to be used only for non-contact sports, and that users must adhere to social distancing and cannot gather in groups of more than 10.
The City is still not accepting any park bookings at this time.
Winnipeg Transit
Winnipeg Transit will continue to move to a reduced schedule effective Monday, May 4; however, it will be monitoring passenger levels and will increase the number of buses in service if social distancing cannot be appropriately observed.
We will continue to analyze City services based on the Province’s plan and under the guidance of the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer.