“As the annual Cup Match holiday fast approaches, I know that many residents will take the opportunity to make use of our beautiful parks and beaches during the holiday weekend.
“As we keep with the Cup Match tradition and come together to enjoy Bermuda’s outdoor wonders, I encourage everyone to practise safety and to help play their part in ensuring that our outdoor spaces are left in a pristine condition. I wish to take this opportunity wish everyone a safe and memorable holiday,” said Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. the Hon. David Burch, JP, MP.
The Minister today outlined the procedures and staffing levels that will be in place by the Department of Parks during the upcoming holiday period:
Procedures for camping
· Campers and picnickers will be allowed to erect camping and picnicking equipment as well as property and the roping-off of spots at parks and beaches on Monday evening, 25 July.
· Spray painting is not permitted.
· Camping is permitted from Wednesday 27 July until Monday 1 August.
· Gates will be opened on Tuesday 26th to allow patrons to move their equipment and property into the parks and beaches and will close at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday 27 July
· After 9:00 p.m., Park Rangers will lock the gates.
· All vehicles will be directed to be removed from the picnicking and camping areas and instructed to park in the parking lots.
· All equipment and property not removed by Tuesday, 2 August, will be considered abandoned and disposed of.
· Gates will be reopened on Sunday, 31 July, to allow all property to be removed.
· Maintenance staff will collect trash and clean bathrooms during the Cup Match holiday and weekend. They will start at 6:00 a.m.
Park Rangers
Park Rangers will patrol the parks and beaches on Emancipation Day, Thursday, 28 July and Mary Prince Day, Friday, 29 July, to enforce the 1988 Bermuda National Park Regulations and address any other incidents in conjunction with the Bermuda Police Service.
Staff will be assigned to control traffic flow and parking at the following locations:
· West Whale Bay Park
· Horseshoe Bay
· Warwick Long Bay West
· Elbow Beach Tribe Road 4B
· Clearwater Beach Park and Coopers Island Park & Nature Reserve.
Lifeguards
Lifeguards, under the direction of the Lifeguard Superintendent, will be on duty on Emancipation Day, Thursday, 28 July, and Mary Prince Day, Friday, 29 July, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to render first-aid assistance and help visitors. The following lifeguard towers will be in operation:
· Horseshoe Bay
· John Smith’s Bay
· Clearwater Beach
Due to the expected numbers of people on Emancipation Day (Thursday, 28 July), Horseshoe Bay will be managed on that day as follows:
· Department of Parks staff will be on duty alongside officers from the Bermuda Police Service, the Royal Bermuda Regiment, Transport Control Department, and St. John Ambulance.
· Traffic flow and parking will be controlled, and once the parking lot is full, access will be limited to people who are only dropping off (until spaces become available).
· There may be times when the parking lot will be closed to all traffic to clear any congestion.
Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay will close at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, when patrons must start clearing the beach for the cleaning to begin for use on Mary Prince Day, Friday, 29 July.
Parks and beach users are encouraged to follow the directions of on-duty staff. Patrons must not park on double yellow lines and block the park gates, which must remain clear at all times to allow access to Department of Parks vehicles and emergency vehicles.
For the safety of everyone, especially children, the following will not be permitted:
· Bonfires within Coopers Island Nature Reserve
· Dogs on the beaches
· Horses on the beaches
· Vehicles inside the parks after the gates are closed