Will national parks reopen by summer? States, feds are working on a coronavirus plan
As much of the country shut down and people were instructed to stay home to put the brakes on the coronavirus pandemic, many national parks locked their gates.
Now the U.S. Department of the Interior is “working to reopen the American people’s national parks as rapidly as possible,” according to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.
In a statement released over the weekend, Bernhardt said, “The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers and partners continues to be paramount.”
“Across the 500 million acres of public lands stewarded by the Department of the Interior, an overwhelming majority of these lands have remained safely accessible to the American public,“ he said.
Bernhardt said the National Parks Service is coordinating with governors to reopen parks, following guidelines from the White House on how areas can safely reopen.
There is no one date when all parks will be open again, but he said National Park System staff will work with state officials to open parks back up as soon as possible.
“President Trump recognizes the magnificence and grandeur of our National Park System and our ability to restore access to these lands in a safe manner,” he said in a statement.
“It is time the American people once again enjoy the incredible benefits of the great outdoors at our national parks, and we will be making that happen while working with our nation’s governors,” Bernhardt said.
The National Park Service shut down many of its facilities in mid-March, including monuments, restrooms and other amenities where people would gather.
“The National Park Service is modifying its operations on a park-by-park basis in accordance with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities. While most facilities and events are closed or canceled, outdoor spaces in some parks remain accessible to the public,” the National Park Service said on its website.
The Park Service said people should check the status at individual parks before planning a trip.
This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Will national parks reopen by summer? States, feds are working on a coronavirus plan."
