The National Park Service's Coronavirus Response Operating Plans

In response to the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the National Park Service (NPS) closed most park buildings, facilities, and restrooms, and in some cases, entire parks. With States now easing stay-at-home restrictions, and in response to the White House’s emphasis to open the national parks, some parks have already increased access by implementing a phased reopening. To facilitate a safe reopening, the NPS issued the National Park Service COVID-19 Adaptive Operations Recovery Plan to the parks on May 28, 2020. We contacted each of the 62 national park superintendents to report on each national park’s current operating status, anticipated reopening date, and whether the park had begun developing a COVID-19 response operating plan. During our review, we learned that as of May 12, 2020, most of the national parks were entirely closed or still partially closed. Of the 62 national parks, we noted that 32 did not yet have an anticipated date to increase recreational access, visitor services, or use of some facilities, while 30 parks, including Everglades National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park, had either already began a phased reopening or anticipated an opening date between May 2020 and July 2020. Twenty of those 30 parks had developed or had begun developing a phased reopening plan with COVID-19 considerations, while 10 parks had not started developing such a plan. We acknowledge the challenge the NPS has had in this ever-changing and unprecedented situation. We also recognize that the NPS cannot take a one-size-fits all approach to reopening its locations, as each national park must consider guidance from Federal, State, and local officials. Considering the risks associated with COVID-19 and the phased reopening of the national parks, it is imperative that all NPS locations have a park-specific plan to operate in a way that provides public access while protecting visitors and staff from further transmission of the virus.