COVID-19: Reopening Middlesex Centre

Date

February 26, 2021

Last updated on February 26, 2021.

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. Core 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.

The Project Restart Plan was developed to allow for a gradual reopening of municipal services and amenities.

MXC Project Restart

Reopening Middlesex Centre is taking 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. We may find ourselves moving up-and-down through the reopening phases as the impacts of COVID-19 change.

"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.

Note to Park Users

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

The Province has limited close contact to only members of your household (the people you live with). As of February 16, 2021, up to 25 people may gather outdoors, as long as you can keep 2m physical distance from each other. You should also wear a mask or face covering.

Status: Reopening of Municipal Facilities & Programs

Facility or Service	Current Status	Notes
Municipal Office	Closed to public	The municipal office is closed to the public at this time. 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	Closed for the season
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	Closed for the season
Parks - Basketball Courts	Closed for the season
Parks - Skate Parks	Closed for the season
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.
Parks - Tennis & Pickleball Courts	Closed for the season
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) and avoid gathering in groups. 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: Open - Special Rules Apply Ilderton: Closed - Expected to reopen March 5	Ice time at the Komoka Wellness Centre may be made available for rental under very strict guidelines and in compliance with current Provincial and MLHU regulations. Ilderton Arena is currently closed, but is expected to reopen on March 5. All skaters, coaches, parents, etc. must follow the COVID-19 rules established by the MLHU and any applicable Provincial guidelines. See our COVID-19 Rules for Arenas document for details. These rules are subject to change, depending on the Provincial COVID-19 response level for our region. Most recreational skating and pick-up hockey programs are not offered at this time. Public skating will be phased in starting February 16, 2021, with Adult Skating (18+) at the Komoka Wellness Centre. No change rooms are available. Contact Facility Booking staff for details.
Facilities - Community Centres	Very limited availability	Most community centres are closed to the public. Delaware Community Centre will open for small groups starting February 16. 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 and in compliance with current Provincial and MLHU regulations (see additional notes under Facilities - Arenas above). Please contact our Facility Booking team for details about arenas and community rooms. Please contact the YMCA for information on their hours and service availability (including access to exercise equipment, the gym and the walking track). Please contact the Middlesex County Library for information on their hours and service availability.
Waste & Recycling - EnviroDepots	Closed for the season	Middlesex Centre EnviroDepots closed for the season in November. Try-Recycling (Clarke Rd) is open and available for residential use.
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. Confirm hours of operation prior to visiting.

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.

Please use our feedback form to share your ideas.