COVID-19: Reopening Middlesex Centre

Date

November 9, 2020

Last updated on November 9, 2020.

In March 2020, the municipality closed all municipal offices, parks and facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs including recreational skating and those offered by our partner organizations like the Middlesex County Library and YMCA were cancelled.

Fortunately most municipal services (water and wastewater delivery and treatment, roads maintenance, building inspections, waste collection and yard waste drop-off, etc.) continued to be offered despite these closures.

As we start to "flatten the curve" for COVID-19, we expect that municipal facilities will gradually reopen.

MXC Project Restart

Reopening Middlesex Centre will take place in three phases:

Phase 1 - parks open for walk-through, arenas, community centres and other recreation services closed, municipal office closed to public, with most staff working from home
Phase 2 - sports fields and courts open, limited opening of Wellness Centre and services such as the library and YMCA, expanded materials accepted at EnviroDepot, municipal office open by appointment only, with limited staff in the office
Phase 3 - playgrounds and all park amenities open, all facilities open, municipal office open

As you'll see in the full "MXC Project Restart" Plan below, there are no timelines associated with reopening. Rather, the plan offers a road map to reopening, with timing based on guidance and direction from the province and Middlesex-London Health Unit.

"MXC Project Restart" Plan

The reopening plan includes steps for increased safety in response to COVID-19. For example, there will be enhanced cleaning and sanitizing and glass barriers at customer service counters. These steps are in place for the safety of both residents and municipal staff.

Where are we NOW?

Please see our main COVID-19 information page for updates on the status of all municipal services.

For information on what businesses are open, please visit the Government of Ontario's website.

In all cases, parks users must, at a minimum, comply with Provincial guidelines on gathering sizes, physical distancing, and so forth.

Status: Reopening of Municipal Facilities & Programs

Facility or Service	Current Status	Notes
Municipal Office	Open - Many Services require Appointment	The municipal office is open for bill payments and other front-desk activities. Services such as building, planning, and municipal clerk (weddings, lottery licensing, etc.) require an appointment. Visitors must wear masks or face coverings (if medically able), sign-in to the building, and practice physical distancing. During this period, residents and businesses are encouraged to take advantage of our online services where possible (billing, building permits), or to contact staff via phone or email. Please see Building Department & COVID-19: Updates for specific information related to building permits, inspections, etc.
Parks - General Use (walking, hiking, dog walking, biking)	Open - Special Rules Apply	Practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart); avoid gathering in groups. Note all washrooms are closed at this time. Please ensure dogs remain on-leash.
Parks - Playgrounds	Open - Special Rules Apply	Hours of Operation: dawn to dusk To ensure everyone has a safe, fun visit, please: Avoid large gatherings. Practice physical distancing. If the play structure is busy, visit again later. Avoid touching your eyes, nose & mouth. Use hand sanitizer thoroughly & often. Stay home if you are feeling sick or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms. Note all washrooms are closed at this time.
Parks - Splash Pads	Closed for the season
Parks - Pavilions	Open - Special Rules Apply	Open for individual families (same household) to briefly take a rest, have a snack, etc; come back later if areas are in use; practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart); avoid gathering in groups. Not available for rentals at this time.
Parks - Ball Hockey Rink	Open - Special Rules Apply	Open for individual families (same household) for informal play/practice; come back later if areas are in use; practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart); avoid gathering in groups. Not open for organized sports or rentals at this time.
Parks - Basketball Courts	Open - Special Rules Apply	Open for individual families (same household) for informal play/practice; come back later if areas are in use; practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart); avoid gathering in groups. Not open for organized sports or rentals at this time.
Parks - Skate Parks	Open - Special Rules Apply	Open for individual families (same household) for informal play/practice; come back later if areas are in use; practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart); avoid gathering in groups. Not open for organized sports or rentals at this time.
Parks - Sports Fields: Soccer Pitches & Ball Diamonds	Open - Special Rules Apply	Open for individual families (same household) for informal play/practice; come back later if areas are in use; practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart); avoid gathering in groups. May be open for organized sport rentals if they can show compliance with Provincial guidelines. Please contact our Facility Booking team for details.
Parks - Tennis & Pickleball Courts	Open - Special Rules Apply	Practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart); come back later if courts are in use; avoid gathering in groups. See COVID-19 Best Practice Guides: Tennis Canada Pickleball Ontario
Parks - Dog Off-Leash Areas ("Paws in Parks")	Open - Special Rules Apply	Brief visits; come back later if dog-off-leash area is busy; human visitors should practice physical distancing (2m / 6ft apart). Note dogs must be on-leash at all other parks, including those parts of Douglas B. Weldon Park and the Ilderton Rail Trail which are not designated as part of the "Paws in Parks" program.
Facilities - Arenas	Komoka & Ilderton Arenas - Open: Special Rules Apply	Ice time at the Komoka Wellness Centre may be made available under very strict guidelines for athletic competitors in training programs conducted by a recognized Provincial or National Sport Organization. Ilderton Arena is open (special rules as above). All skaters, coaches, parents, etc. must follow the COVID-19 Section 22 rules established by the Middlesex London Health Unit. See our COVID-19 Rules for Arenas document for details. Most recreational skating and pick-up hockey programs are not offered at this time. Public skating will start being phased in on November 16, 2020, with Adult Skating (18+) at the Komoka Wellness Centre. Contact Facility Booking staff for details.
Facilities - Community Centres	Limited availability	Most community centres remain closed at this time. The London Life Community Rooms at the Komoka Wellness Centre are available for rental. Contact Wellness Centre staff for details. The Delaware Community Centre may be available for rent if users in compliance with currently Provincial guidelines for indoor gatherings (less than 10). Please contact our Facility Booking team for details.
Facilities - Komoka Wellness Centre	Open - Special Rules Apply	Ice time at the Komoka Wellness Centre may be made available for rental under very strict guidelines for athletic competitors in training programs conducted by a recognized Provincial or National Sport Organization. The London Life Community Rooms at the Komoka Wellness Centre are available for rental. The YMCA fitness centre is open. Hours and services may vary. The Middlesex County Library's Komoka Branch is open for curbside pick-up. They are also offering computer-access by appointment.
Waste & Recycling - EnviroDepots	Open - Special Rules Apply Note: EnviroDepots close for the season on Nov. 14, 2020	As of June 6, all materials traditionally accepted at the EnviroDepots will be accepted (see the list under Waste & Recycling). Try-Recycling (Clarke Rd) accepting other materials. Special protocols for physical distancing on-site.
Waste & Recycling - Household Special (Hazardous) Waste	Open	Middlesex Centre residents may bring their household hazardous waste to the City of London's Household Special Waste Depot. The city re-opened this facility to the public as of May 26, 2020.

Your thoughts & comments

Responding to the challenges of responding to COVID-19 is new for everyone. We welcome your thoughts and comments on how we can improve our response.

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