Brecksville, OH - Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, James A. Garfield and First Ladies National Historic Sites and Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) are increasing recreational access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.
Beginning June 30, First Ladies National Historic Site will reopen access to:
* Education and Research Center, 9 am - 4 pm on Tuesday - Saturday
Beginning July 1, James A. Garfield National Historic Site will reopen access to:
* Visitor Center, 10 am - 4 pm on Tuesday - Sunday
The following spaces continue to be available:
* First Ladies Park, 24 hours/day
* James A. Garfield grounds, daily 8 am - 4:30 pm
* CVNP trails and outdoor information center next to Boston Mill Visitor Center
* Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s gift shop inside Boston Mill Visitor Center
“We are very happy to once again provide access to these sites that tell incredible stories of American presidents and first ladies in the safest possible way" said Lisa Petit, Deputy Superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, James A. Garfield National Historic Site and First Ladies National Historic Site. “People have had access to CVNP trails all along, and we continue to be committed to providing over 120 miles of trails and outdoor spaces for the public to enjoy."
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At the three parks, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and work spaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.
While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.
The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.
We have amazing virtual tours of James A. Garfield National Historic Site, all of the time, so for people who are still home schooling or not traveling at this time check out https://www.nps.gov/jaga/virtual-garfield-home-tours.htm.
Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website and social media channels:
* Cuyahoga Valley National Park: website, Facebook
* James A. Garfield National Historic Site: website, Facebook
* First Ladies National Historic Site: website, Facebook
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
www.nps.gov
James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio offers guided tours of the Garfield home, museum exhibits, a biographical film, walking paths, an outdoor cell phone tour, and dozens of annual special events. The National Park Service completely restored the house in the late 1990s, making it one of the most impressive presidential homes preserved for the public.
First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton, Ohio is co-operated by the National Park Service and the National First Ladies Library. The historic site consists of two properties; the home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley and the seven story 1895 City National Bank Building, which now serves as the Education and Research Center. The site honors the lives and accomplishment of our nation's First Ladies.
CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural resources in one setting. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/cuva, www.facebook.com/cuyahogavalleynationalpark, or call 440-717-3890.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
-NPS-
Tags: reopened reopening phased opening covid 19
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
