Surrey businesses, community need indoor sports facilities to reopen: board of trade
Posted July 27, 2020 4:41 pm.
Last Updated July 27, 2020 4:42 pm.
SURREY (NEWS 1130) — Surrey is facing pressure to allow indoor sports facilities to reopen safely, as one organization calls for the city to follow the lead of other municipalities.
According to the Surrey Board of Trade, reopening plans are being substantially delayed compared to other cities and provinces. CEO Anita Huberman argues there are negative economic implications by keeping the facilities, including pools and gyms, closed.
“Many other cities, such as Saanich, Burnaby, Coquitlam, are creating safe reopening plans for their cities. We’re just asking and calling for communication and leadership,” she says.
“The business community relies on recreational facilities being open. They are facing increased costs with no reasonable revenue available to them.”
The board is calling on the city to start planning a strategy and work towards staggering reopenings.
RELATED: Surrey residents demand City reopen indoor pools amid pandemic
“Especially during this pandemic, Surrey residents, our kids – as we’re returning back to work – they need to be able to access sports facilities,” Huberman says.
She adds kids need these centres to open back up to stay healthy, and that one open facility isn’t enough for the city’s population of 600,000.
Huberman says she hopes the topic will be addressed in Monday’s meeting.
Surrey closed all community facilities, including pools and rinks, because of COVID-19 in mid-March.
