Sacramento County to close two popular riverfront sites Saturday over health concerns

Two popular Sacramento riverfront spots will be closed Saturday in response to large events planned there amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Sacramento County parks officials said.

Discovery Park and Tiscornia Beach, both located near the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers and both well-known for attracting crowds, will be closed Saturday, Sacramento County Regional Parks said on social media. The officials said three large events that lacked proper permits were planned for Saturday in the area.

“In an effort to protect public safety and health, we will be closing the park,” officials said.

The park will reopen Sunday, although the trail that runs through it will remain open throughout the weekend.

The closure comes after large numbers of Sacramento-area residents eager to escape the sweltering heat took to the water at Tiscornia Beach and elsewhere along the American River over Memorial Day weekend.

A dearth of social distancing and protective gear such as facial masks among the crowd raised some concerns regarding waterfront recreation during the pandemic — although the condition of the water itself may be another issue.

High levels of E. coli from fecal contamination were recently found in samples of the water near the beach, which could be a result of upstream homeless encampments along the parkway.

Levels of E. coli found in the river have frequently exceeded state and federal standards in the past year.

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 7:39 AM.