Pere Marquette won’t soon reopen, other state parks will. How did Illinois decide?
Illinois leaders considered range of activities, proximity to most populous areas and available space for social distancing among other factors when deciding which state-run outdoor areas could be reopened to the public beginning Friday.
Seven state parks and recreation areas in Southern Illinois, from Carlyle to Metropolis, were among those to receive the OK to reopen.
Another seven sites in the metro-east, including Pere Marquette and Horseshoe Lake state parks, will remain closed temporarily during the coronavirus pandemic.
Where can you visit?
These are the state-run sites opening from sunrise until sunset for hiking, biking, fishing and other activities beginning May 1:
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Carlyle.
Washington County State Recreation Area in Nashville.
Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area in Kinmundy, located in Marion County.
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Whittington, located in Franklin County.
Giant City State Park in Makanda, located in Jackson County.
Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis.
Carlyle Lake, which is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is also open, along with the Shawnee National Forest.
What factors were considered?
Rachel Torbert, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, explained state officials’ selection process in an email to the Belleville News-Democrat.
“Selected sites represent parks, fish and wildlife areas and recreational areas which are distributed throughout the state and are accessible to many, offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities with acreage to allow for social distancing directives, provide necessary restroom and handwashing facilities, and have on-site staff to ensure the safety of visitors and maintenance of the site and site facilities,” Torbert wrote.
“Safety of park visitors and potential strain on staff, first responders and law enforcement also were considered when reviewing potential sites.”
Where can’t you visit?
Here are the local state-run sites remaining closed temporarily:
- Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton.
- Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Grafton.
- Horseshoe Lake State Park in Pontoon Beach.
- Illinois Caverns in Waterloo.
Fults Hill Prairie State Natural Area in Chester.
Randolph County State Recreation Area in Chester.
Pyramid State Recreation Area in Pinckneyville.
Torbert said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources would “further assess” the closures as public health directives change.
“Protecting the health and safety of our site visitors, staff and first responders is our highest priority,” Torbert wrote in the email.
What are the rules for visitors?
For those who plan to visit the reopening sites, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources asks that they choose those locations closest to where they live, bring hand sanitizer and face coverings with them, come alone or with members of their household, and keep at least 6 feet away from others.
At the state-run sites, visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, beaches and concessions will remain closed, people will not be able to reserve shelters, and hunting is suspended, according to the department of natural resources.
Each site’s staff and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police will be monitoring the reopening locations.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed campgrounds, picnic shelters and playgrounds at Carlyle Lake, but the site’s boat ramps, day-use areas and trails for hiking and biking remain open. For updates, call the Carlyle Lake and Kaskaskia River Project Office at 618-594-2484 or follow the Carlyle Lake Facebook page at facebook.com/carlylelake.
At Shawnee National Forest, between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in Southern Illinois, restrooms, campgrounds and the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area are closed, but hiking and fishing remain available to the public, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Updates will be available online at fs.usda.gov/shawnee.
Both the Corps of Engineers and Forest Service ask that visitors practice social distancing to protect themselves from the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 2:56 PM.
