Visiting the outdoors during the COVID-19 outbreak
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) encourage New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice social distancing, and use common sense to protect themselves and others.
Getting outdoors to walk, jog, hike, ride a bicycle, or visit a park or state lands is a healthy way to stay active, spend time with your immediate household family members, and reduce stress and anxiety while practicing physical distancing. While indoor spaces and restrooms at State Parks and DEC’s public facilities may be closed to prevent community spread of COVID-19, parks, grounds, forests, and trails are open during daylight hours, seven days a week.
State Parks, Lands, Forests, and facilities are monitored by Park Police, Forest Rangers, Environmental Conservation Police Officers and other staff. These parks, lands, forests, and facilities and visitors will incorporate physical distancing to limit the potential spread of COVID-19. In addition, these officers and staff respond to, and assist, local agencies with search and rescue missions, wildfire suppression, and other response activities. Following this guidance will prevent unnecessary burdens on, and dangers to, state resources and local responders during the ongoing COVID-19 response.
While enjoying outdoor spaces, please continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/State Department of Health (DOH) guidelines for preventing the spread of colds, flu, and COVID-19:
DEC and State Parks also encourage visitors to State Parks, State Lands, and other parks to:
If you are sick or have had contact with someone who is sick in the last 14 days:
If you are over 70 or have a compromised immune system:
Below are some specifics for State Park visitors:
Parking: To encourage physical social distancing at popular parks, trailheads, and scenic areas, State Parks will reduce the number of available parking spaces on high visitation days. Have a plan ready to visit a different park or another park area. Visit https://parks.ny.gov/parks/ for a list of parks. Park maps are available on each park page.
Playgrounds, Athletic Courts and Sporting Fields: All State Park playgrounds, athletic courts, and sporting fields are CLOSED. This measure is taken for the safety of all visitors and to stop the spread of COVID-19. Park visitors should maintain 6 feet of social distance and visit parks for solitary recreational activities only. Please avoid crowds and refrain from group activity.
Restrooms: Due to COVID-19 we have closed most indoor spaces – visitor centers, nature centers, and historic houses. Some but not all public restrooms will continue to be available. Please note that many restrooms may still be closed until water systems are restored from seasonal closures. Visitors should plan accordingly and call the park office for more information.
Golf: Golf Courses are closed through May 7. State Parks will continue to evaluate the situation and will announce when the park facilities will open.
Early Season Camping and Pavilion/Shelters: Due to the global health crisis, all campsites, cabins, cottages, and pavilions/shelters are CLOSED through May 14th. All visitors with reservations will be issued a full refund. We ask for your patience as refunds are processed. Campgrounds are open for passive recreation in daytime.
Camping Reservations and Pavilion/Shelter Reservations: New York State has suspended all new camping, cabin and cottage and pavilion/shelter reservations for the 2020 season until further notice. We are assessing campground and pavilion status on a daily basis. If you’ve made a reservation for the season beginning May 15, and we determine your facility is safe to open, your reservation will be honored. However, visitors who wish to cancel an existing reservation may do so and receive a full refund. Thank you for your patience as we work to protect the safety of our visitors and staff.
Entrance Fees: All entrance fees have been waived.
Permits and Passes:
The Long Island Island Regional Office will only accept 2020 Beach Access permit applications (Dashboard Permits) by mail
or email. Please do not visit the regional office in person. The application and all instructions are available at Long
Island Dashboard Permits
Events: All public programming and events have been canceled until further notice.
Lifeguards: At this time, all qualifiers have been postponed through the end of April.
As the situation continues to develop, we will take any necessary actions to protect visitor and staff health. We appreciate your support and patience as we navigate this public health crisis together.
Resources: New York State Health Department COVID-19
To achieve compliance with the CDC’s directive to limit gatherings of 50 people or more, and to ensure the health and safety of Walkway staff and volunteer ambassadors, all Friends of the Walkway events are postponed through the end of May. The Friends will not operate information pavilions or have ambassadors on the bridge until state and local officials declare safe conditions for their operations and return. Additional updates will be posted at walkway.org and on our Facebook page as necessary.
Walkway's waterfront elevator at Upper Landing Park is open and operating from 9 a.m. until 90 minutes prior to the park's closing time.
WALKWAY PARKING UPDATE - Walkway's Poughkeepsie lot at 61 Parker Avenue is closed for construction.
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