S.C. State Parks Reopen May 1

Edisto Beach State Park beach remains closed to the public on May 1

As the Covid-19 response in South Carolina continues to evolve, the first signs of post-quarantine outdoors living are on the calendar for May. South Carolina State Parks plan to reopen on a limited basis beginning May 1, while their group facilities at each site will remain closed. The cancellations for normal gatherings during May are considerable, but for those that want to get outside and visit a park, these options will have to suffice.

            

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is responsible for the gradual reopening of S.C. State Parks, and they will monitor visitor usage as needed to ensure compliance with CDC guidelines. The best news is for those with existing state park camping and cabin reservations on May 1, since they will be allowed to check-in on schedule. New reservations for camping and cabins can now be made, with new check-ins starting on May 11. State Park visitor centers are also scheduled to reopen on May 11, with staffing levels ramping up towards a May 15 target date to reopen state park retail stores. State Parks will be assigned a daily carrying capacity, and the gates to any park will be closed at that time, until the number of visitors inside decreases.

Group facilities like picnic shelters, playgrounds and community buildings will remain closed for the time being. Existing reservations for group rental facilities will be cancelled through June 1, with no fees for rescheduling. Until further notice, state parks will not conduct park programs or tours. However, Facebook Live interpretive programming is ongoing and will continue on a limited basis. State Park Passports are good for 12-months of visits, and every passport holder affected by the closures during the month of April will have an extra month of availability added to the end of their passport ending date. 

To read the feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about S.C. State Parks click Cheraw State Park -  Hickory Knob State Park - Edisto Beach - Huntington Beach - Myrtle Beach - Hampton Plantation - Barnwell / Tornado - Hunting Island

To view past blog entires on managed properties click  Congaree National Park - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Botany Bay WMA / Coastal Geology - Donnelly WMA / Night Sounds - Belfast WMA / Benefit - Bear Island WMA / Birding