MADISON, Wis. (AP) - State parks will resume normal hours this weekend but visitors won’t have access to bathrooms until early next month, the Department of Natural Resources announced Friday.
The parks have been operating with reduced daily hours and have been closed completely on Wednesdays as the state grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. Visitors have had no access to park restrooms.
The DNR said all parks will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting Saturday subject to property-specific capacity restrictions, which can be found on the DNR website at: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/apip/capacity.aspx.
Patrons won’t have access to bathrooms until June 3, however. Towers, shelters, playgrounds, nature centers, headquarters, entrance stations and concession buildings will also remain closed to the public.
All campsites will remain closed until at least June 7. The department plans to reevaluate conditions after that date.
Rock Island State Park will also remain closed, the DNR said. Ferry service to the island has been suspended due to high lake levels.
Four natural areas will remain closed as well, including the Dells of The Wisconsin River; Gibraltar Rock, Parfrey’s Glen; and Pewits Nest, due to public health concerns.
As of Friday, the state has seen 14,396 cases of COVID-19 and 496 deaths, according to state health officials.
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