The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is taking steps to manage crowds ahead of the weekend.
Paid on-call firefighters will be directing traffic and managing parking regulations at local parks, including Rainbow Park, Lost Lake Park and Alpha Lake Park.
Lines have also been painted on the Village Stroll to help with traffic flow and remind people to consider others, while new signage has been installed at pinch-point areas where people tend to stop.
“This summer, help everyone enjoy Whistler’s outdoor spaces safely and responsibly,” an RMOW spokesperson said in an email.
“Please follow parking regulations, park only in designated spots and if the parking lots are full, consider biking or transit. If you have to park on the road, park only on the even side of the street.”
While at the park, make sure that you are giving others space. If you arrive and the park is busy and you can’t physically distance, consider coming back later or head to another outdoor space that’s less busy.
“Help keep our parks clean. Pack out everything you pack in, including garbage. Be bear smart and take all of your garbage with you,” the spokesperson said.
At Whistler Blackcomb, which has mandated face coverings for all guests since opening on June 29, it’s been “so far, so good” in terms of summer operations, said Vail Resorts’ West Coast communications director Marc Riddell.
Creekside and the Dusty’s patio are open for business, and “despite everything that’s going on in the background, I think we’re plugging along as best as we can, and people have been really receptive to it,” Riddell said, adding that the company has seen “miniscule” pushback on its mask requirement.
“People get it. They understand that this is a different time, they respect the decision that we’ve made as a company,” he said.
“We really haven’t had too much pushback on how we’ve positioned it, so we’re thankful for that.”
