For those who love to skate on the scenic Simcoe County Museum trail, you’ll have to wait until at least early 2021 to hit the ice.
The skating trail will remain closed until further notice due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions. Starting Boxing Day, the region is under a 28-day lockdown and the earliest it can reopen is Jan. 23.
Museum curator Kelley Jones says it was her understanding that the trail could open, weather permitting, but the decision was made not to open it during the provincial lockdown.
“We had been in consultation with the health unit and knew we could open while we were in the red zone, and it seems we could in this current lockdown situation,” said Jones. “But we made the call to not open until at least late January.”
The trail, which travels around the museum's heritage buildings, historic equipment displays, and forest pathways, spans more than one kilometre in length.
Jones says it is quite a popular day out for many.
“On average, we’ll usually see a few hundred a day, maybe 75 to 100 at night,” said Jones. “It is a popular pastime in the area for people.”
The museum itself closed for the lockdown on Thursday and will stay that way for the duration of the 28-day order.
“We had been open since Aug. 4 and had a good amount of people coming through the doors, by appointment only,” said Jones. “That allowed us to keep social distance rules in effect and everyone safe.”
To keep up to date on when the trail and museum may open up, check out the website here.
