Port Coquitlam, BC, June 12, 2020. . . Port Coquitlam will open its sports fields to organized sports groups for summer season rentals on Monday, with new protocols in place to protect public health. 

With the return of sport there will be modifications to games and practices and new procedures to ensure field users take the necessary health and safety precautions.

“I would like to thank our sports groups for their patience as we coordinated the safe reopening of our sports fields,” said Mayor Brad West. “I know this news will be welcomed by kids and families in our community who are eager to get back to physical activity and playing the sports they love.”

Port Coquitlam’s field reopening aligns with the BC Restart Plan, which is taking a coordinated approach to the return to sport. The non-profit organization viaSport, which has led the process of reopening amateur sport across B.C., released Return to Sport Guidelines to help individual sport organizations create detailed plans for the safe return of their sport during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city worked closely with the Port Coquitlam Sports Alliance to ensure that all sport groups were well supported through this transition and are implementing the Return to Sport guidelines so that sports activities are phased in safely.

“We know it’s been a tough few months especially for kids and we are excited to be able to get some of our sports groups back out playing and returning to sport,” said Councillor Steve Darling, the city designate for sports and recreation. “We ask everyone to make sure they’re following the guidelines and playing safely so we can keep our fields open.”

Starting June 15, user groups that have finalized safety plans may begin to book fields. The city has met with sport user groups to review and adjust the previous schedule, and reinstate bookings that were cancelled through to the end of June for groups who are ready to return to sport.

Prior to booking a sports field, local sport organizations must have a sport-specific COVID-19 Safety Plan that details precautions to be put in place to mitigate the risk of virus exposure or infection. The plan has to be approved by the group’s board of directors or provincial sport organization if they belong to one.

It is the responsibility of sport groups to remind all participants, coaches, officials and spectators of the guidelines, which include frequent handwashing, limiting and sanitizing shared equipment, physical distancing measures, and ensuring that no one with symptoms attends the sport activity.

User groups will also need to have measures and modifications in place to support public safety, such as focusing on drills and skill building, limiting touch points, and ensuring physical distancing. Every organization must operate within provincial health restrictions. All users should continue to take individual precautions and stay home if sick.

Field reservations can be made online at www.portcoquitlam.ca/sportsfields. Please email recreation@portcoquitlam.ca for more information.

The city closed sports fields to the public and sports groups in March to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but later reopened them for casual use only.

Staff continue to work on plans to safely reopen additional recreational facilities. Visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/covid19for more information about the City’s response to COVID-19.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Pardeep Purewal
Manager of Communications & Admin Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5335 Cel 604.218.0533
Email purewalp@portcoquitlam.ca