PA Officials: Get Outside, But Social Distance

HARRISBURG, PA — As Pennsylvania's shutdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus grinds on, officials are letting residents know it's OK, even helpful, to get outdoors — as long as you're observing smart social distancing.

"During this time of significant changes to our daily routines it’s clear that our need for and appreciation of nature is greater than ever," Dunn said. "Outdoor activities are a great idea to relieve stress and as immunity boosters, but they should not include exposure to high-touch surfaces or other groups of people — we need to spread out."

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While the best way to avoid spreading the virus is to stay home, Dunn said outdoor activities like walking, hiking and running are allowed if social distancing is maintained.

She offered these tips:

• If you have a yard, spend time there outdoors every day.
• If possible, take a walk around your neighborhood with the people in your family, as long as you can stay six feet away from neighbors.
• If you decide to leave your neighborhood, plan for several alternate locations, so if you arrive at your first one and there are crowds, you can move on.
• Choose a less busy time of day, such as early morning.
• Find a local park or trail that offers enough space for social distancing. Pennsylvania has more than 6,000 local parks that are identified on an interactive map.
• Some municipalities have closed local parks to protect visitors and employees, so check the status of the park before you go. If the park is open, bathrooms and water fountains likely will not be, so plan ahead.
• There also are more than 12,000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, most of which remain accessible during this period. Find a nearby trail at trails.dcnr.pa.gov.

State and local parks, state forests, and trails are seeing record numbers of visitors, with more
anticipated as the weather turns warmer and fishing season begins.

RELATED: Public May Use PA State Park Spaces During Shutdown

From March 17-25, Presque Isle State Park in Erie saw an average 165 percent increase in
visitation from the same dates last year.

State park and forest facilities such as restrooms, playgrounds, and all overnight accommodations
are closed, and staff is limited, but the public may still access open spaces and trails.

Visitors are urged to:

• Avoid crowded parking lots and trailheads – find a different spot.
• Use the bathroom before you visit.
• Bring a bag and carry out your trash, as there is limited staff emptying trash cans.
• Clean up after pets and carry out the bags.

Pennsylvania has 121 state parks, and 20 forest districts.

>>>Full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania