By Medicine Hat News on July 4, 2020.
City administrators say they are on track with a plan to open portions of the Family Leisure Centre to the public on Monday. The Cenovus Arena and South Country fitness floor will be available for bookings and use beginning next week as the facility reopens after months of pandemic-related restrictions. Other areas are scheduled to open in stages over the next month, including the indoor pool (July 13 for public swimming to those who pre-register), the gymnasium (July 20), and the field house (July 27). The province announced on June 12 that recreation facilities like those operated by municipalities would be allowed to reopen under new guidance for physical distancing and sanitation to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. When the pool opens it will be available only to those who pre-register in a process that is yet to be announced. More information on swim lessons will also be forthcoming, administrators said Friday. Administrators are also reminding patrons that a project to pave the north-side parking lot is continuing. Division Ave. closure Traffic will be rerouted through the Southeast Hill as crews move to the next phase of water line replacements on Division Avenue next week. Starting on Tuesday, Old Cemetery Road – which connects Kipling Street to Division Avenue – will be closed to traffic as crews begin work at the top of the hill. That is expected to last until July 18, depending on the weather. In the interim, vehicles will be diverted along 11th Street, past Central Park, to the Third Avenue Hill, and then to Kipling then College Avenue. The eastern stretches of Kipling and Spencer streets are also closed due to separate roadwork, resulting in no direct access to Kingsway Avenue and Dunmore Road. 13