Esplanade to reopen on June 15

There will be restrictions on the number of people allowed in the Esplanade, restrictions on what can and can’t be touched and restrictions on areas of travel. Brown said it’s no different than what has been in place at grocery stores over the past few months.

“There’s going to be some restrictions on what you can and can’t touch,” said Brown. “Given the fact that a lot of modern museums are very interactive where there are a lot of – I’ll call it touch points – on there, some of these items are going to be removed.”

Shows are still not allowed, as those would be considered mass gatherings.

Hours of operations will be from 12:00 to 5:00 pm and visitors are encouraged to check in through bookings online beginning Monday. Walk-in visitors will still be allowed, however the capacity of the Esplanade will be capped.

Admission is also being left up to the visitors, as the City is allowing guests to choose their own price point for visiting the Esplanade once open.

On transit, the entrance will be at the front where plexiglass will be in place to protect the driver and the exit will be at the side. This reverses the measures put in place in response to the pandemic earlier this spring.

“You’re now going to be able to enter in from the front and exit through the side,” said Brown. “You’re going to see a Plexiglas shield that is protecting our drivers and there is going to be that fare re-introduction.”

While fares will be returning for riders, the City said it will be discounted at $1 per ride with July and August bus passes being sold at a 50 percent discount.

Mayor Ted Clugston revealed suggestions made by citizens in response to his Staycation idea request from two weeks ago. The most popular suggestion was drive-in movies, followed by opening splash parks and Canada Day fireworks.

Watch the full update from the city on our Facebook page.

by Chris Brown & Scott Roblin

Esplanade to reopen on June 15

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