Alberta’s largest botanical garden reopened on Monday and those who run it say they expect it to become a popular place to go during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re just so grateful that we can open the doors and be a place of peace and relaxation and refuge in natural beauty for people, which we think is going to be craved by many of us now,” said Kerry Mulholland, communications co-ordinator for the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.
As a result, the garden near Devon will be doing things a little differently to ensure social distancing is possible.
Measures include making admission possible only for those who make a reservation online before their visit to the green space.
“Like many other places, we have to open with safety in mind,” Mulholland said.
READ MORE: New U of A Botanic Garden saw spike in attendance; Aga Khan in town for inauguration
Visitors will also need to follow a one-way route as they tour the grounds “so that people can safely navigate along our pathways without having to worry about passing too close to somebody else,” Mulholland added.
“It’s a big garden and there are places that are off the path, and people can step off the path — that’s allowed here — but when they’re on the pathways, we’re maintaining that one-way routing.”
The garden’s new welcome centre is still under construction so visitors will be using an alternate entrance for the time being.
READ MORE: U of A Botanic Garden closing early for entry pavilion construction
Mulholland noted that the garden’s indoor features will be closed to the public this year because of the pandemic.
Watch below: Some Global News videos about the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.
View photos of the garden below: