Panorama of High Rocks – Photo: L. Weikel

Public Access to Nature – Update

As I lamented in my post Banging the Drum, the announced closure of the State Parks in Bucks and Montgomery Counties was both a shock and a deep disappointment. While I certainly understood, of course, the need to mitigate the danger of spreading the Coronavirus infection to park visitors and staff, closing these State Parks at this time, especially, felt ill-advised. After all, schools are being closed and people are being essentially counseled to ‘stay home’ and not go anywhere where there are crowds of people.

What better invitation (and need) to spend some quality time in nature than that?

Obviously, the best way to accomplish the goal of promoting the safety of park staff and visitors was believed to be by shutting down all buildings and facilities, including restrooms, and postponing or canceling all programs where staff and visitors would be meeting in groups. Given that it was a ‘complete’ shutdown, all parking lots were also closed.

I was even more distressed the next day, when I read about New York’s Governor Cuomo shutting down that state, yet recognizing the therapeutic value of being in nature decided at the same time to waive the state park fees – in order to promote New Yorkers’ connection to and enjoyment of the outdoors.

Change of Heart

But I’m excited to report that a little bird told me that a change of heart occurred! Apparently, when Governor Wolf decided to close down the entire state of Pennsylvania the day after the announcement of complete closure of the parks that I mentioned in my post, the powers-that-be realized the critical need of the citizenry to have somewhere in nature they can go to get away from the four walls of their homes, soak up some Vitamin D, feel the wind in their hair, sun on their faces, and just be in the company of trees and creeks and rivers and rocks.

So the decision was made to keep the trails and parking lots open. Huzzah!

Take Care of Business Beforehand

Take heed, though! The closure of all facilities and amenities at the parks remains in effect. That means, of course, that you need to relieve yourself of your morning or afternoon’s ingestion of beverages before arriving at the park.

And your added responsibilities don’t end there. The State Park system has been forced to send certain staff home for quarantine and because the buildings are all being closed. While Park Rangers will continue to be in the area, they may be spread a bit thinner.

So use your head. Don’t get cocky. Give yourself the gift of being in nature and enjoying it without drama.

Our lives are all entering uncharted territory at this point. We’ve made our preparations to ‘hunker down’ as best as we can, but we know, deep down, that this is not some blizzard that will only take a couple days to clear. We’re in a place of recalibration and re-centering. We have to adjust to a starkly new reality – for the long haul.

Gratitude for Public Access to Nature

I’m ever so thankful that Pennsylvania DCNR has discovered the middle way of protecting its park staff and citizens, while allowing them to enjoy and embrace the benefits of being nurtured by Mother Earth.

Tohickon Ducks – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-619)