Maine closes 10 state parks and beaches, cites concerns about others

Photo / Jim Neuger Closed until April 8 and possibly longer: 10 Maine State parks and beaches, including Fort Popham on the midcoast.

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By Renee Cordes

In response to overcrowding at state parks and beaches that hampers recommended social distancing, Maine officials have closed 10 sites in the midcoast and southern regions through April 8 and possibly longer.

The move, by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Bureau of Parks and Lands with the support of Gov. Janet Mills, comes as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maine continued to rise.

"Closing any of our state parks is the last thing we want to do," said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal in a statement. "We are keeping as many parks as possible open, and we encourage people to look for ways to take much-needed breaks in the outdoors that allow them to avoid crowded places and maintain physical distancing."

Acadia National Park is also closed to the public, it announced on Wednesday,

As of Thursday morning, Maine had 155 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 17 patients who have recovered, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.

To help contain the spread, officials have now closed the following outdoor sites as of midnight Friday: Popham Beach State Park and Fort Popham; Reid State park in Georgetown; Fort Baldwin in Phippsburg; Kettle Cove, Two Lights and Crescent Beach state parks in Cape Elizabeth; Scarborough Beach State Park; Ferry Beach State Park in Saco; and Mackworth Island in Falmouth.

Those closures could be extended depending on the spread of the virus, according to DACF, which said it is monitoring visitation at all state parks.

The Department's Bureau of Parks and Lands also noted heavy use last weekend at Sebago Lake State Park, Range Pond State Park, Wolfe’s Neck State Park and Bradbury Mountain State Park.

In light of warming temperatures that may cause overcrowding to be an issue at other state parks, the Bureau of Parks and Lands urges visitors to be careful and seek alternate outdoor spots close to home, including backyards and neighborhoods, land trust trails, wildlife management areas and public lands.

The department said it will work closely with local, county and state public safety officials as it modifies park operations.

Other measures taken so far include canceling all park events and closing all playgrounds and public restrooms. Additional steps under consideration for this weekend involve restricting vehicular traffic and parking at some parks to reduce the concentration of visitors.

For a list of park closures and descriptions of curtailed services, check online.

During the closures, the Bureau of Parks and Lands staff will continue patrolling parks and will work with local and state law enforcement to enforce all health guidelines and park regulations.