Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was joined by members of his cabinet to update citizens on the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic on Friday. Click below to listen to the entire address:
Arkansas State Parks to reopen tent camping Monday
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Tent camping will open in all Arkansas State Parks beginning on Monday, announces Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
“Whether frequent guests or those new to our Arkansas State Parks, Arkansans have made clear their desire to resume tent camping in our parks,” says Hurst. “I am happy to be able to tell them that our campgrounds will reopen to tent camping on Monday, June 1. Also included in reopening will be the bathhouses and restrooms that support campgrounds and day-use visitors. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we have worked to make sure that we are providing the safest possible way for our guests to enjoy our state parks system.”
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has advised about proper cleaning techniques to ensure maximum safety for park guests, as well as the staff who will be doing the cleaning.
“We have been diligently working towards this goal for weeks,” says Arkansas State Parks Director Grady Spann. “We were first able to open camping back to RVs with self-contained bathrooms on May 1. Now, with proper PPE and training, our parks staff are able to keep the bathhouses and restrooms sanitized according to ADH and CDC standards. Our main concern continues to be the safety of our visitors and staff during this public health emergency.”
Lodges, cabins, YURTs and Rent-A-RV had been limited to Friday through Monday only rental. They will now be available for weekday reservations with some restrictions to ensure proper cleaning.
Guests are reminded that while camping they still need to follow the recommended guidelines of keeping a physical distance from others not within their family or group; wearing a face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, and washing hands or using hand sanitizer frequently. Park rangers and staff will remind campers of these guidelines so state parks can remain open for our visitors to enjoy.
Campground reservations may be made online by going to www.arkansasstateparks.com or by calling a specific park. Campers may check in at the Visitor Center (cloth face-coverings or masks are required inside public buildings) or by calling the park directly. Park staff will check-in campers remotely prior to their arrival when possible. Visitors from New York state or any international location are advised to self-quarantine according to ADH guidelines.