South Nation Conservation (SNC) is committed to supporting municipalities, partners and people as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic unfolds.

In accordance with the Government of Ontario’s Emergency Order on March 31, all outdoor recreational amenities in the province are closed.

The order does not apply to green spaces including parks, trails, and Conservation Areas. SNC has closed facilities with its municipal partners and some Conservation Areas.

Getting outside and going for walks can help promote positive mental and physical health and can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression; stepping outside and staying active and safe is more important now, than ever.

SNC owns and maintains many public recreational sites and Conservation Areas through agreements with 16 member municipalities.

People can get outdoors this Easter Weekend at the following Conservation Area trails that remain open and maintained for passive recreational use (walk-through access only):

  • Two Creek Forest Conservation Area (Morrisburg)
  • Oschmann Forest Conservation Area (Ormond)
  • Robert Graham Conservation Area (Glen Stewart)
  • Warwick Forest Conservation Area (Berwick)
  • J. Henry Tweed Conservation Area (Russell)
  • W. E. Burton Conservation Area (Russell)
  • Reveler Conservation Area (Crysler)
  • Nokomis Park (Limoges)

All other Conservation Areas not listed (including the Findlay Creek Conservation Area, access to the Leitrim Wetland in Ottawa, and the Alfred Bog Boardwalk) are closed, full list at: www.nation.on.ca/coronavirus.

All of SNC’s outdoor washrooms, play structures, seating areas, gazebos and boardwalks are closed; group reservations in parks have been cancelled.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19 people should stay home except for essential reasons and should limit the number of these essential trips.

SNC requests that visitors take extra care, maintain distancing (two metres away from anyone outside your household) and be respectful of other trail users: dogs are not permitted to be off leash on trails.

If people do not respect physical distancing, meet in groups in parks, increase parking lot and trail interactions with others, access or vandalize closed facilities, or are walking dogs off leash; SNC will be forced to act and close the remainder of its Conservation Area trails. Visitation is monitored and operations will be adjusted accordingly.

 

SNC plans to maintain open Conservation Areas for passive trail users with noted precautions, signage and messaging. Future updates will be provided concerning river access for boats and fishing.

SNC is monitoring the pandemic and response closely and will provide updates on changes to operations and business continuity as they become available at www.nation.on.ca/coronavirus.

SNC manages over 20,000 acres of Community Forest in Eastern Ontario and many of the public, day-use Conservation Areas have been donated to the Authority through SNC’s Land Securement Program to help maintain natural legacies and to provide people a place to step outdoors and into nature.

SNC is a not-for-profit and community-based environmental agency that relies on donations and self-generated revenue to protect and enhance the local environment across its 4,441 square-kilometer jurisdiction.

People can learn more or donate to SNC online at www.nation.on.ca/donate.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: John Mesman, Team Lead, Communications and Outreach,
1-877-984-2948, [email protected].

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