SC State Parks plan to reopen in May after being closed to public during coronavirus
A tentative plan is in place to open State Parks across South Carolina, which have been off limits to the public for more than a month during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 47 parks are set to reopen May 1 — but only on a limited basis, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism spokeswoman Dawn Dawson-House told The State Wednesday. She said the move is being guided by public health officials.
“It’s more complex than just opening the gates,” Dawson-House said.
Day-use areas of the parks, including picnic areas, rivers, lakes, beaches and trails will be open, according to a news release from park officials.
But group facilities, like picnic shelters and community buildings, will stay closed to the public, according to the release. Other areas, such as visitor gathering places and park offices, will also remain closed or only operate on a smaller scale, park officials said.
Each state park will only allow a limited number of visitors at a single time, and the levels will vary by park, according to the release. Officials said when a park reaches its maximum capacity, the gates will be closed until the number of visitors decreases.
It is not unlike the “home or work” order from S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster which restricts store capacity to five people inside per 1,000 square feet — or 20 percent of the business’ posted capacity.
All state parks were closed on March 28 in an effort to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“While the re-opening of State Parks will provide much-needed outlets for the citizens of South Carolina to engage in outdoor recreation, SCPRT remains highly aware of the ongoing public health threat posed by COVID-19,” Director Duane Parrish said in the release. “SCPRT will continuously monitor visitor usage and adjust visitor services as needed to ensure compliance with the guidance provided by SCDHEC and the CDC.”
A second wave will open more of the operations at state parks. Visitor centers are set to reopen on May 11 and state park retail stores will welcome customers beginning May 15, according to the release.
Social distancing mandates will be followed in both venues, and contact between state park employees and visitors will be limited, officials said.
Playgrounds will remain closed until at least June 1, because of the health concerns raised by the difficulty of effectively cleaning equipment, it said in the release.
There are no plans to resume park programs or tours of historic structures, such as the Hunting Island Lighthouse or Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park, park officials said.
“We know the public loves their state parks,” Parrish said. “We believe we’ve found a balance between providing access to parks and keeping visitors and employees safe.”
Not all outdoor venues will immediately reopen to the public.
The highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras Mountain Observation Tower, will remain closed to the public, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officials said in a news release.
Other state properties that remain off limits include Bald Rock Heritage Preserve, Capers Island, St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve islands, Fenwick Island, and Botany Bay beach access, according to the release.
Piers at 13 state lakes operated by DNR will also remain closed in spite of the governor’s order loosening restrictions on public access to beaches and waterways.
The venues are staying closed because “ensuring the health and safety of staff and visitors as our first priority,” DNR officials said in the release.
On Tuesday, 172 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 4,608 confirmed COVID-19 cases in all 46 counties, according to DHEC.
DHEC also announced that 11 more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 135. State health officials described 117 of the people as elderly, 18 patients were middle-aged, and all but 17 are confirmed to have had underlying medical conditions.
“There is currently no cure or vaccine,” the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said.
There have been 37,833 combined negative tests at DHEC’s public health laboratory and at private labs.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
DHEC is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus. Social distancing is staying away from unnecessary interactions with sick people and from large groups of people; it also calls for remaining at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
As of Wednesday morning, 2,585,468 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 178,845 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 825,306 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 45,075 deaths have been reported, including 14,887 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 9:41 AM.
