A popular beach near Toronto will finally open this month but don’t plan a day trip just yet.

The town of Cobourg has decided open the beach but only on weekdays in an effort to prevent “mass tourism” from destroying COVID-19 social distancing protocols.

Like other beach towns near Toronto such asSauble Beachand华沙加海滩, Cobourg has struggled with the decision to keep the beach closed out of fear of overcrowding during the pandemic.

Sauble Beachclosed before Canada Dayafter handing out more than250 bylaw infractionsto June beach-goers. The beachreopened in Julywith strict rules. Wasaga Beach alsostruggled with rule-breakersthis summer. The beach laterreopened with podsto control crowds.

Cobourg toyed with the idea of opening in July with anonline booking system, but the town scrapped that idea.

With summer coming to a close and the beach still fenced in, the issue was once againdebated at Cobourg council.

The popularity of the beach to visitors — yes that includes Torontonians — had some Cobourg residents opting for a continued closure.

"I do understand how everybody loves our beach…I mean we wouldn’t be debating this again and again all summer if it wasn’t such an important issue," Cobourg Councillor Adam Bureausaid at the meeting.

He argued kids won’t be returning to school like other years and many people are unemployed so opening on weekdays could still bring huge numbers of visitors.

"It would be nothing to have a beach day on a Tuesday or Wednesday especially if it is 30 plus degrees outside," Bureau said. "It will bring mass tourism in my opinion."

Cobourg residents have expressed similar fears. Dilys Robertsonsaidshe is worried about unsafe overcrowding and visitors shopping and eating at local businesses.

"Unlike provincial parks, we have no fee for entry for use of the park and beach therefore our facility has a greater tourist attraction," Robertson said.

In light of the fact many Cobourg residents want to visit the beach, council decided to go ahead with the weekday reopening. Fencing will remain in place to close the beach on weekends.

The beach is slated to reopen after Labour Day on Sept. 8