State parks offer social distancing with a view By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com
U
tah’s State Parks welcomed more visi- itation was on the rise this spring. East Can- more people in April than in years past, acIn Southern Utah, campgrounds in state tors than normal this spring as residents yon, Deer Creek and Willard Bay all saw cording to Swalberg. parks have been full, while day use has also sought a safe escape from COVID-19 quarincreased. Kodachrome Basin State Park antine. With restrictions easing throughout reported full campgrounds in spring once much of the state and people looking for safe county-level restrictions were eased for state ways to get out, officials anticipate that visiparks. The appeal of open spaces has contintation to continue. To keep people safe during ued to attract visitors. peak seasons, officials encourage visitors to “Once you hit the trails, you’ve got room practice responsible recreation in state parks. to spread out and practice social distancing,” “We didn’t close any doors,” said Eusaid Nathan Martinez, park manager at Kogene Swalberg, public information officer dachrome Basin State Park. “I think people with the Utah Division of Parks and Recrewere tired of being cooped up. They wanted ation. “Many of the parks saw greater than to get outside and do some hiking, and this is normal seasonal visitation.” a great place to do your social distancing.” Initial lockdown measures restricted visUtah has 44 state parks and museums itation to Utah State Parks to county residents and over 2,300 campsites. Visitors can hike only in April. Then, as restrictions eased in or bike 324 miles of trails in state parks. The May, park visitation took off. The four state parks reflect the diverse landscape of Utah parks near St. George, for example, all saw and offer visitors the opportunity to get out. higher than normal attendance this spring A list of parks and COVID-related updates even with limitations in place. In fact, some can be found at stateparks.utah.gov. parks had to limit visitors on busy days as For those who journey to the parks, the parks like Quail Creek State Park filled up. Utah Division of Parks and Recreation en“Many reservations were canceled due courages visitors to be safe when visiting. to COVID for a period early on,” Swalberg “The buzz word is responsible recreation,” said. Reservations and day use then increased Swalberg said. “We encourage social disas restrictions eased and people looked for tancing, and for people to not congregate at ways to practice social distancing in the great trailheads, clean up after themselves, and to outdoors. stay home if they’re sick.” l Utah has 44 state parks and museums. (Joshua Wood/City Journals) Even in cooler Northern Utah, park vis-
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July 2020 | Page 17
