The state of Arkansas and Hot Springs National Park announced Wednesday that they are ending overnight camping as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but are not closing all outdoor facilities.
Beginning today, Hot Springs National Park will restrict use of the Gulpha Gorge Campground, including the restrooms and picnic area. Campers currently registered to camp in Gulpha Gorge will be asked to leave their campsites by Friday.
"Most outdoor spaces at Hot Springs National Park remain open and accessible to the public in accordance with the latest federal, state, and local health guidance, including all park trails, roads, and the Grand Promenade," the National Park Service said in a news release.
Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, announced Wednesday that all Arkansas State Parks will be open for day use only effective as of 8 a.m. Friday, "until further notice," eliminating all overnight stay opportunities.
"These changes will maintain some access to parks at this time but discourage trips from out-of-state visitors," the state said in a news release.
Arkansas State Parks, which previously limited overnight camping to RV use only, announced the more restrictive measures during Gov. Asa Hutchinson's daily COVID-19 news conference in Little Rock on Wednesday.
Hot Springs National Park Superintendent Laura Miller said the decision to close the campgrounds came as a result of how popular they have been during the coronavirus pandemic.
"We've been monitoring the situation every day as state, local and federal authorities issue guidelines," Miller said, noting this past weekend the campgrounds "had probably 100 people in the day-use area."
"It became clear that we couldn't sustain a large crowd," Miller said. Having this many people, she said, also caused her staff to risk possible infection by having to clean restrooms for the campers.
A large number of visitors have been from out of state, she said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already closed or limited its campgrounds.
"As other areas have closed, people get squeezed" as they "move into parks that are open," Miller said, noting this "caused us to get more people than we can handle."
Hurst said Wednesday during the governor's news conference that the recommendation to close the campgrounds was based on three things: "First of all, actual visitation data that we have collected through our online reservation system at state parks. Secondly, observations on day-use from our parks staff and from the public, and finally, best practices from other states."
Hurst said "It is our desire to keep state parks open, but only where it is safe and manageable to do so," noting that the move is consistent with 28 other states.
Following Wednesday's news conference, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism Communications Director Melissa Whitfield confirmed for The Sentinel-Record there would no longer be RV camping, saying, "Day use only at all parks. No camping or overnight stays of any kind."
Hurst also announced that popular trails in the parks that are seeing large amounts of hikers will be closed.
The trails at HSNP will remain open to the public. Miller said that over the past few weeks, they have seen a good amount of people on the trails. She could not give an accurate estimate as to how many visitors the park has had, as the visitor center where they count visitors is closed.
While visitors will not be able to drive into the campgrounds, Miller said park visitors will still be able to enter the grounds via the hiking trail that leads to it.
As far as interpretive programs in the state parks, according to an update posted on its website Wednesday, "to protect our guests and staff" scheduled programming is canceled through May 13.
"This may be extended if warranted. This includes special events, tours, guided hikes, workshops, day camps, school groups, and other programs. This includes the closure of historic or other buildings used exclusively for interpretive programming," it said.
"One of the benefits of the outdoors is the opportunity to find solitude and relaxation while hiking, running, paddling, biking, fishing, boating, or wildlife watching. We are taking the recommended precautions from the CDC to maintain clean and sanitary public spaces," the website said.
Any deposits to the parks will be refunded, and any fees will be waived, according to Wednesday's news release. Questions about reservation cancellation should be made to the parks directly.
The state also announced these additional measures:
• Parking will be restricted at highly visited parks to designated lots only and enforced through citations or tickets issued by park rangers. Some parks will close the entry gate to the park when it is full for crowd control.
• Problematic areas such as trails that are either too narrow for proper social distancing or so popular that crowding occurs at the trailhead may be closed.
• Park rangers will enforce social distancing by patrolling parks and dispersing gatherings of more than 10 people. Uniformed staff, including superintendents and interpreters, will actively help educate visitors on the grounds on busy days.
• Park rangers or other park staff from across the system will be deployed to highly visited parks as needed in anticipation of crowds.
Local on 04/02/2020