Governor responds after Trump says national parks will reopen

Images courtesy of the National Park Service, St. George News

SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the country’s national parks would begin to reopen. No exact opening dates were specified in the announcement.

Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

Following our announcement last week to reopen state parks to all visitors, I support a safe and structured reopening of Utah’s five national parks and other national recreation areas. We look forward to working with local health departments in finalizing plans to safely get people back into Utah’s own Mighty Five.

Outdoor recreation is important to the health and wellness of Utahns. It’s a great way to escape cabin fever and relieve stress and anxiety brought upon by current circumstances. We cannot, however, relax our efforts to practice safe social distancing and responsible recreation. We all play a part in keeping one another safe, whether in our communities, or recreating at a state or national park. By working together, I believe we can safely reopen these areas.

I encourage Utahns to recreate responsibly. Stay close to home, and practice safe social distancing. Give others at least six-feet of separation on trails, golf courses, fishing docks, overlooks and other areas. Avoid unnecessary risks that may result in hospitalizations. Do not congregate at trailheads and other popular common areas. Stay home if you’re sick or have symptoms of the coronavirus. Keep parks and recreation areas clean by packing out what you pack in, and respect facility closures like visitor centers, campgrounds and restrooms.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2020, all rights reserved.

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