Arkansas State Parks temporarily closed all facilities, including day-use areas, at Lake Ouachita State Park to the public Friday morning following a report that three people who camped there in late March tested positive for COVID-19.
"The Lake Ouachita State Park is temporarily closed because it was reported to Arkansas State Parks late (Thursday) afternoon that three people who were RV camping at Lake Ouachita State Park in late March have recently tested positive for COVID-19," said Melissa Whitfield, communications director for Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
Whitfield said the three campers "were in some level of contact with 12 of the park's 23 employees" and, because of that, "we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the park." The closure was made at 8 a.m. Friday.
All of the park employees, both those who were in contact with the campers and those who weren't, are now self-quarantining.
"Out of an abundance of caution, all employees at Lake Ouachita State Park began self-quarantines last night," Whitfield told The Sentinel-Record on Friday.
"Park rangers from Lake Catherine State Park and Lake DeGray Resort State Park are helping out and will be patrolling on a daily basis while it is closed to the public," Whitfield said.
"It's unfortunate," Whitfield said, adding that "we're going the extra mile to see that every employee and guest is safe. Just closing it to keep everyone as safe as can be."
Whitfield said the park is working with the Arkansas Department of Health on what to do next, noting, "We don't have a date yet" for when the park can reopen.
Lake Ouachita is the only state park in the State Parks system that has fully closed, according to Whitfield.
"Everywhere else is open," she said. All overnight lodging, including campgrounds, have been closed as a response to the coronavirus, and several of the more popular trails are currently closed.
"When we are able, we plan to re-open the park for day use only. We want to be as proactive as possible for the safety of our employees and guests, but this is really all I can say at this time," Whitfield said.
On Wednesday, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson directed that Arkansas State Parks implement "day use" operations only, effective 8 a.m. Friday, a decision he said he made in consultation with Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst.
"Arkansas State Parks will remain operational," Hutchinson said in a statement released Wednesday evening. "Arkansas is known for our outdoor recreation, and we want to allow Arkansans to safely enjoy what our state has to offer. These new safety measures will reduce the risk of overcrowding at our parks and discourage visitors from out-of-state until the threat of COVID-19 has passed."
"This Friday, we will move to 'day use' only across our state parks system, eliminating all overnight stay opportunities," Hurst said. "This is consistent with 28 other states, and we believe it will further reduce the number of out-of-state visitors. We are staying on top of the data and best practices and will adjust if further limitations are needed."
Under the new "day use" directive, Arkansas State Parks will close overnight facilities, such as cabins and campgrounds.
The state also announced that, "due to the inability to offer adequate space for social distancing," the following areas and trails will be closed:
• Cedar Falls Trail and Cedar Falls Overlook at Petit Jean State Park.
• The day-use area on Highway 300 and the East Summit trailhead parking areas at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, including access to the West Summit, East Summit, Kingfisher and Base Trails, the Little Maumelle River Boat Ramp and the Picnic Area.
• Fossil Flats Mountain Bike Trail and the Woody Plants Trail at Devil's Den State Park.
On Friday the State Parks' COVID-19 website was updated to reflect the closure, but Lake Ouachita State Park was listed first under the "What is closed" section as "temporarily closed."
Local on 04/04/2020