Bracebridge beaches open, safe from hazardous waste

BRACEBRIDGE — Two contaminated beaches are back open here.

Kirby Beach and Bracebridge Bay Beach have been cleaned up and are now open again.

Bracebridge residents and visitors are advised that Kirby’s Beach Park and Bracebridge Bay Park beach areas have re-opened as town staff have completed clearing the beachfronts of hazardous material.

Back on April 24, town staff said they and the OPP had been alerted to vandalism at Kirby’s Beach Park and Bracebridge Bay Park upon discovery of broken glass, sewing needles, sharps and fishing hooks in the shallow waters along the beachfronts.

Public Works staff took measures to ensure that these two beaches are safe.

As a precautionary measure Kirby’s Beach Park and Bracebridge Bay Park beach areas were closed to public access until the beaches have been cleared of deleterious material over the next few days.

All other municipal beaches are being checked for vandalism as well.

The public is advised to treat any discarded needle as if it was contaminated.

If you find a discarded needle, cover or mark the location of the needle with an object and contact the OPP Communications Centre at 1-888-310-1122.

Adults should ensure children understand they should never pick up needles.

If children should find a discarded needle, they should notify an adult immediately.

The town asks that for any future signs of hazards or vandalism within town parks, to contact the public works department at 705-645-5264.