Sunset Point Park is closed, and has been for weeks, but there are still some who have either missed the memo or chosen to ignore it.
Like the group of out-of-towners who tried camping there this weekend.
Collingwood’s OPP detachment commander, Inspector Mary Shannon, said OPP officers responded to the park after receiving a report of a group trying to camp at the closed park.
The group pushed back when officers told them they couldn’t camp there for several reasons.
Sunset Point Park is closed while repairs are ongoing and debris from storms and high water levels is cleaned up.
Even when the park is open, overnight camping is prohibited.
And finally, the emergency orders from the provincial government still prohibit overnight camping anywhere in the province.
“They were somewhat upset as they were directed to move on,” said Shannon during a virtual media conference today.
Mayor Brian Saunderson said “there’s a great deal of frustration” over the number of people still going to Sunset Point Park.
“We need people to stay out of the park,” said Saunderson, noting it’s not safe due to the damage and now also because of the heavy machinery and work going on.
The Collingwood and The Blue Mountains OPP have not yet laid any fines under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act. Though police have issued fines for trespassing.
Local OPP received 280 calls for service between Collingwood and The Blue Mountains last week, including many calls to Heritage Park and Sunset Point Park due to gatherings.
“I’m asking the public to please, please show respect for our officers [and bylaw officers],” said Shannon. “You’re jeopardizing their health by not respecting social distancing.”
She said there will be increased patrols in areas such as town parks with officers on the lookout for people gathering in contravention of the provincial emergency orders.
The mayor said the weather seems to have brought more people out to public spaces.
“I would say we’ve had very good compliance up until this point,” said Saunderson. “We are trying to reopen, and we are trying to do that safely and responsibly. If things continue that way, then I think we will certainly look at increased measures.”
Shannon said there are strategies such as circle markings like the ones drawn in Toronto parks she thinks would help raise awareness of the physical distancing expectations even in public outdoor spaces.
“People have been isolated, and I can attest to the heat this past week, certainly a lot of people were looking to get out into the water,” said Shannon. “It’s just not a point in time where we can really let slip all the hard work that we’ve done to flatten the curve. We certainly don’t want to see a spike in the second wave … this is by no means over with.”
Sunset Point Park will remain closed this weekend. If you are using the trail, it has been rerouted to run along the road instead of through the park.
