NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF BARRIE
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With summer now in full swing, residents are invited to enjoy the City of Barrie’s beaches and parks, and support local businesses, while following COVID-19 health and safety measures.
It’s important to continue to follow the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s advice to stay home when sick, stay two metres apart from others, wear a face-covering outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained, and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
Here are some other reminders and helpful information when visiting the city’s waterfront and park areas this summer season:
Beaches
Barrie’s beaches offer a great way to beat the summer heat, but we ask that residents and visitors remember the following:
Please be respectful of the city and clean up your litter. If garbage cans are full, please take your garbage with you.
- Barbecues and other cooking appliances are not allowed at waterfront beaches or parks.
- Tents or sunshades are not permitted in waterfront beaches or parks unless they are supported by no more than one pole and having no more than one wall or side.
- There are public washrooms located at Centennial Park, Heritage Park, Southshore Community Centre, Tyndale Park, Minet’s Point Park, Shear Park, St. Vincent’s Park and Johnson’s Beach Park. Visit barrie.ca/parks for hours of operation.
- Dogs are not permitted at any waterfront beaches.
- The city’s outdoor drinking water fountains are currently not available to use due to COVID.
Starting June 30, lifeguards will be on duty daily from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Johnson's Beach and at Centennial Beach. Parents/guardians are reminded that children require direct supervision at the beach. When lifeguards are on duty, signs are posted; buoy lines mark the designated swimming areas supervised. As in previous years, there is NO supervision at any other waterfront locations. Always practise water safety.
Parks
Visit the Parks Listing section at barrie.ca/parks to view the full list of the City’s parks and their amenities, including splash pads, playgrounds, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and tennis and pickleball courts. Please note that dogs must be leashed at all times in City parks, and please stop and scoop. Do not gather in large groups and if playgrounds are too crowded, come back another time. Respect others and limit your court or field time if others are waiting to play.
Waterfront parking
Barrie residents require a Resident Parking Pass in order to park for free at specific waterfront areas. The pass must be displayed at all times when parked. Non-residents are charged $10/hour with a daily max of $50; paid parking is enforced 24/7/365. Visit barrie.ca/WaterfrontParking for a list of lots for use with the Resident Parking Pass.
Support Local
Open Air Dunlop is happening this summer, which means a section of Dunlop Street is closed to traffic on Saturdays from now until the fall season. Open Air Dunlop will also take place on Fridays ahead of long weekends. Visit downtownbarrie.ca/openairdunlop for more information.
Patio hours have also been extended (until indoor dining is permitted under the COVID-19 Reopening Framework as established by the Province) and are now as follows:
- 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday
- 10:30 p.m. to 1:45 a.m., Friday, Saturday, and July 1 (Canada Day)
The hours that a person be permitted to remain in the outdoor area are extended as well:
- 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., Monday to Thursday
- 11:15 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Friday, Saturday and July 1 (Canada Day)
For the most up-to-date information about city services, visit barrie.ca/services.
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