Visitors and injuries increase at state parks

File this under pandemic fallout: More people have been injured in Pennsylvania state parks so far this year than all of last year.

Last year, there were 404 visitor injuries and 17 fatalities.This year, 436 have been injured and 16 have died, including a Reading man who drowned in Hopewell Lake in July.

The increases come as more people have headed outdoors as the pandemic shut down other forms of recreation.

“(Staff) on the ground are saying ‘every day is like a weekend and every weekend is like a holiday,’ “said Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which oversees 121 state parks, including Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Cumru Township and French Creek in Union Township.

During May, June and July, the state park system saw increases of more than 1 million visitors each month over the same periods last year, representing monthly visitation increases systemwide of as much as 36%, with some parks seeing 50% to 100% more visitors.

State officials are advising visitors to plan ahead if they intend to go outdoors for Labor Day weekend.

“With their social lives upended and travel plans canceled, millions of Pennsylvanians are taking to the outdoors for much-needed opportunities to get exercise, relieve stress, and be with loved ones while remaining safe and socially distanced — but that is key,” Dunn said. “We are reminding people that they need to find uncrowded areas, have a mask and wear it if they can’t keep their distance, and help us take care of special natural places.”

The following parks have been reported to have reached capacity and experienced unsafe overcrowding or turned away visitors: Beltzville in Carbon County — the most overcrowded in the state, visitors should consider Tuscarora, Tobyhanna,

and Gouldsboro State Parks for swimming and picnicking alternatives; Codorus; Keystone; Marsh Creek; Ohiopyle; Presque Isle; Ricketts Glen; Tyler and Washington Crossing.

Campgrounds have been fully booked weeks in advance, and some parks have been so popular that they reach capacity by 10 a.m. There were 170,000 campsite bookings between midMay and the end of August, almost double the 92,000 for the same period last year.

Serving all the visitors takes a toll on staff as well as the parks.

There have been 87 search-and-rescue incidents in state parks this year, nearly as many as all of last year’s 92. John Norbeck, deputy secretary for parks and forestry, said he expected the total to be well over 100 through the upcoming fall hiking season.

At French Creek in Union Township, water- and landbased search and recovery teams logged more than 30 miles on the 68-acre Hopewell Lake, while those on foot have logged an undetermined amount of miles along the wooded shore.

Norbeck said the state had logged 11,587 law enforcement incidents as of August, nearly as many as 2019. In 2019 there were 12,582 minor and major incidents, he said. Litter has also increased substantially, and Norbeck said the state is relying on volunteer groups to aid in cleanup.

Dunn also reminded people that if they love their outdoor places, they should show it by taking their trash home with them, cleaning up after pets, staying on trails, and respecting other visitors and the natural resources by abiding by rules.

“Taking these actions helps our staff, who are working hard welcoming record numbers of people to state parks and forests, protect visitor safety,” Dunn said.

To handle increased crowds the state has moved rangers and sent central office personnel to overcrowded parks, including Beltzville.

“Pennsylvania has 121 state parks that anyone can visit for the day regardless of their financial situation, and visitors should consider some new destinations to avoid crowds,” Dunn said. “Get online and pick out a few options and remember that state forests also have less-traveled trails and primitive camping that provide good alternatives. Plan ahead so you have a good and a safe experience.”

Although swimming pools will close after the Labor Day weekend, DCNR is extending swimming seasons at some state park beaches into September to offer additional opportunities to cool off if the weather remains warm.

DCNR’s website map includes beach updates by park. Users should choose the red bar web alert on the homepage that reads “DCNR Facilities – What’s Open and Closed.”