Everglades, Biscayne national parks to remain closed, despite Miami-Dade order
Miami-Dade’s parks and golf courses may be reopening on Wednesday but Everglades and Biscayne national parks, and state parks will remain closed until the federal and state governments decide on a plan to allow the public to access the lands.
The National Park Service said Tuesday that the two parks are working on a “multi-phased approach to reopening” and that an announcement will be made later this week. The Park Service closed Everglades and Biscayne on March 20, complying with county orders to close beaches, public parks and marinas to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Miami-Dade’s six-week closure order for parks will be replaced by new guidelines aimed at limiting close encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic. They include one-way walking on trails and bans on organized sports. This is the first significant reversal of public health measures that shut down much of Miami-Dade’s economy and recreational facilities, including beaches that attract millions of visitors annually.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez said it’s part of a regional strategy to back away from COVID-19 restrictions on recreation, with Broward and Palm Beach counties announcing similar decisions. In Key West, some beaches are opening this week but only for residents — two highway checkpoints are still in place in the Upper Keys to keep out tourists and visitors.
But not all parks in the county will be available: the city of Miami has opted to keep city parks closed for now. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said on Monday that the city has a three-phased approach to reopening businesses, and that he plans to reopen parks, marinas and Virginia Key beach during the first phase. However, that won’t start without a green light from the Florida Department of Health.
State parks will also remain closed, according to a statement by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“We are working in conjunction with the Governor’s Office, health agencies and will coordinate with recommendations from the Re-Open Florida Task Force to develop short and long-term reopening strategies that prioritize the safety of our visitors and staff,” the DEP said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 17 gave the green light to local authorities to start reopening recreational areas including some beaches.
This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 4:42 PM.
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