George Street In Downtown Closes This Weekend To Help People With Physical Distancing
/George Street will be closed from McDonnel Street to King Street from 3 p.m. on Friday, June 12th until Sunday night to help people with physical distancing as businesses resume more activities under Stage 2 of the Province’s framework for re-opening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of the street closure is only to provide space for pedestrians to stay a safe distance away from each other—not for street activities or structures. Residents are reminded that spaces created by road closures are smoke-free according to City by-law.
George Street
The weekend George Street closure is an interim measure while the City works to put in place broader changes to increase sidewalks space to assist with physical distancing by changing vehicle lanes and on-street parking. The broader changes are expected to be implemented within the next couple of weeks as the City acquires and installs barriers between vehicle lanes and the new pedestrian spaces.
A map of the planned broader changes to sidewalks, vehicle lanes, and on-street parking is available at peterborough.ca. The changes were developed in collaboration with Peterborough Public Health and the Downtown Business Improvement Area.
Besides providing more pedestrian space, the broader changes will allow businesses to work with the City through a new streamlined application process to make use of some sidewalk space to offer services outside, while maintaining space for physical distancing and following public health guidelines.
George Street
PATIO REGULATIONS
-> Currently, only previously approved patios are able to establish on downtown sidewalks as the first phase in a phased approach.
-> For businesses looking to add new patios or expand previously approved patios, a new streamlined application process has been set up to quickly review and approve requests that meet public health guidelines and essential requirements for the use of the public property. The application process will be available starting next week.
-> Patio operators are asked to follow the Province’s guidelines on the safe re-opening under the emergency situation and public health guidelines including:
Restricting the number of patrons on the patio to a maximum of 50% of the previously approved capacity.
Ensure physical distancing of at least 2 metres between patrons from different households.
Using reservations – no lineups as space is limited and lineups onto the sidewalk will make it difficult for physical distancing.
Limiting the number of patrons allowed in the outdoor space at one time.
Ensuring enough space between tables, including to allow for movement.
Access to indoor facilities is limited to patio/outdoor dining area access, food pickup, payment, washrooms or other health and safety purposes.
Not using overhead structures such as tents and canopies that may impede with pedestrians and physical distancing (using umbrellas is encouraged to provide shade).
Ensuring tables and chairs are at least one metre from the outer limit of the patio, in order to facilitate physical distancing.
