While avid campers may be wanting to spend Memorial Day Weekend at one of Guthrie County’s campgrounds, Conservation staff remind them of the current COVID-19 related policy in effect.

Last week the Lenon Mill and Nations Bridge parks’ campgrounds were reopened for “Level One” of the Conservation Board’s adopted policy, which only allows self-contained wheeled units to camp, with some campsites closed to ensure social distancing, and restrooms and shower houses still closed. Conservation Director Brad Halterman says employees are to wear face masks with campers, and they won’t have the same interaction with visitors as he’s come to know, “For right now these times have changed and so you’re going to see our park rangers continuing to patrol the parks but you’re not going to see us walking the parks or walking into campsites and walking up to folks and shaking their hands and welcoming them and things that have been done in the past. As employees and park rangers we’re going to respect people’s social distance also and we’re going to keep those measures in play too.”

While the parks are not closed to other visitors, Halterman reminds that campfires at campsites are only for those site occupants, and park rangers will enforce the state’s proclamation for social distancing. Level One of the County’s policy will remain in effect until further notice.