NORTH BAY -- Under a scorching sun on a hot summer day, dozens of families soaked up a few rays at Marathon Beach on Thursday after spending weeks stuck inside.
"I'm very thankful we have all these lakes so we can get out into the warm weather and it's nice to be outside of the house," said one beach-goer.
"We were trapped inside for a while and it's tough with young kids because they want to stay busy," said another. "We are definitely going to be out more."
As this blast of hot weather continues and restrictions surrounding the Coronavirus are easing, the city is reopening amenities, including public washrooms.
"They were closed until we had a cleaning plan to follow," said city councillor Johanne Brousseau. "Now that this in place, the staff know when and what to do."
The splashpad is up and running, too. The city says the beach and splashpad are not supervised, and people can expect upgraded sanitation protocols at the facilities.
"Sanitize your hands before and after use," said Brousseau. "There are more frequent cleaning. Our staff follow all the regulations set out by the health unit."
When asked about physical distancing, beach-goers and families said they're making it a top priority for not only themselves, but others enjoying their time.
"It's been hard on the kids. They can't really go out and see their friends or family, so today is a nice day," said one mom.
With the weather predicted to stay hot this weekend, an influx of beach-goers and kids playing at the splashplad are expected.
The city is reminding people to still maintain physical distancing as much as possible.
