Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Gulf Islands National Seashore is increasing recreational access in the Fort Pickens Area and Naval Live Oaks areas. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide 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.
Gulf Islands National Seashore will increase access at:
· Fort Pickens campground Loops A, B, and D will expand access from 50% capacity to 100% capacity beginning September 4
· Fort Pickens campground Loop E will open at 100% capacity September 8
· Fort Pickens campground Loop C will open at 100% capacity September 11
· Fort Pickens group campsite will open September 11
· Fort Pickens jetties and Battery Worth restrooms will open September 11
· Naval Live Oaks youth camp will open September 11
In addition, the following areas continue to be available:
· The Fort Pickens, Santa Rosa, Naval Live Oaks, Okaloosa, and Perdido Key/ Johnson Beach areas.
With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:
· The Fort Pickens Discovery Center
· The Fort Barrancas Area due to the NAS Pensacola closure
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Gulf Islands National Seashore, 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 workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.
A safe and enjoyable park experience begins at home. The NPS encourages visitors to plan their visit by checking the park’s website and social media for current conditions and travel tips. The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We ask the public to be our partner in recreating responsibly, by following CDC and state and local guidance, social distancing, and wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained. Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/guis and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
About Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat. Visit us at www.nps.gov/guis, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.
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. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice and Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice.
-NPS-
Tags: news news release gulf islands national seashore florida
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
