By Lyonel Doherty

Park Ambassador Caitlyn Bennett is seeing good compliance in Lion’s Park.

Seeing people following the rules makes the Park Ambassador job in Oliver so much easier.

Just ask Caitlyn Bennett and Kyle Fossett.

The two ambassadors have been seeing general compliance in area parks since they started working a week ago.

“I’ve been typically trying to greet every person who enters the park, especially the dog park and remind them about the social distancing rules,” Bennett said. “I haven’t had any push back on that and for the most part everybody is maintaining the distance.”

She noted that most people have sanitizers in their car and are cleaning their hands after they use the parks.

Bennett noted she has seen some French Canadians in the park, but not as many as previous years.

“They’ve been friendly about the distancing rules.”

No rudeness yet, she pointed out.

“Some people want clarification on the rules or why we think the rules will stop the spread of the virus if we open public spaces.”

Bennett said she had a couple of people who were smoking cigarettes and didn’t stop after she advised them of the rules. However, she gave them a pocket ashtray and they were very understanding.

One strange thing she observed was a guy walking his parakeet around the park for an hour.

“It was on his arm and he just walked all around with it. That was pretty cool.”

Bennett said she walked 58,644 steps around the park last week and rode her bike approximately 10 kilometres on the job.

Fossett completed his first two shifts last week and observed people complying with the distancing rules.

“I have not seen any large crowds in the park. Most are up to 6 people, all spaced out.”

He saw a total of 15 to 20 French Canadian farm workers during his shifts.
Fossett said the only defiance he has seen is from locals when it comes to having dogs off leash outside of the dog park.

“I’ll head over to nicely remind them that we do allow dogs off leash in the fenced dog area but not in the main part of the park.”

Fossett said it’s great to see children using the new Small Wheels Park.

Parks and Recreation Manager Carol Sheridan said they decided to reopen the Small Wheels Park and the off-leash park first because they have the lowest risk of transmission of the virus.

Sheridan said these venues are low risk because they are outdoors, in close proximity to handwashing facilities, and allow adequate space to maintain proper physical distancing. They are also easily monitored by parks staff.

She noted they are staggering the reopening of all amenities and will be closely monitoring their use to ensure the virus doesn’t spread.

“Confirmed cases in Oliver have remained at almost nil and we feel that Dr. Henry (provincial health officer) has been consistent throughout the pandemic that people should go outdoors and be active as long as they are practising physical distancing and strong hand hygiene.” Sheridan said they have seen excellent compliance so far from Oliver and area residents using the parks.

“The only issues we are having at Lion’s Park is visitors not from Oliver.”

She noted the message from B.C. health officials has been to go outside and be active but do it close to home.

“So, we do have concerns about people from Osoyoos travelling to Oliver to use the dog park, or visitors from other provinces arriving in larger numbers who may not have the same commitment to keeping our community safe.”