Beginning today, some visitor centers will open, backcountry permits will be available and there will be additional take-out food services from park concessioners in Grand Teton National Park. The Park is increasing recreational access and visitor services following a phased approach and guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local public health authorities. Interior Department Assistant Director for Fish Wildlife and Parks Rob Wallace says the reopening of the individual national parks and monuments has actually been linked to the states’ loosening of restrictions where those parks are located.
“I think Yellowstone and Grand Teton were best practices in the way they thought about coronavirus. They were very systematic in the way they closed down in cooperation with the governor and health officials. They’re doing that same thing in the way they open up. So, a lot of that depends on how fast or how slow a state wants to go.”
By contrast, Wallace says for example, New York which has the Statue of Liberty and other national monument properties, and California is a little slower than Wyoming in opening their national sites. However, they are all trying to be in sync with the governors and open up at a speed they feel comfortable with getting their state’s back open.
