Maricopa County Parks increasing restrictions ahead of Easter weekend

PHOENIX — Maricopa County Parks and Recreation on Friday announced new restrictions in preparation for Easter weekend as the coronavirus outbreak continues to plague the state.

Most of the county’s regional parks will remain open but will begin operating from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. indefinitely.

Lake Pleasant Regional Park will stay open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. while the Hassayampa River Preserve will only be open from Thursdays to Sundays for the time being.

Parks will only be open for a limited amount of people at a time and entrance into parks will be restricted to a one-out, one-in practice or close completely and reopen when capacity is at a safe number again.

Visitors should expect delays and long lines because of the new policies.

“We urge people to do their research, be responsible when seeking outdoor areas and have a backup plan in case the location they’ve selected is congested,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman, District 4, said in a press release. “Please don’t put yourself or others at risk.”

Nature centers, group picnic areas and park playgrounds are closed at parks as well as primitive, shoreline or boat camping at Lake Pleasant Regional Park.

Reserved campsites are still available but residents are strongly encouraged to secure a reservation before heading to a park because most campgrounds are expected to be full for the holiday weekend.

The city of Phoenix last week announced additional policies at its parks for Easter weekend to curb overcrowding and violations of social distancing guidelines.

⚠️#COVID19 Changes to PHX Parks Easter Weekend⚠️

The physical distancing we are doing is working—we must keep it up. For @PhoenixParks Easter Sunday is the equivalent of Super Bowl weekend but, not this year. (THREAD) pic.twitter.com/YM3M2Y0iXn

— Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) April 9, 2020

• Flatland park access will be limited to walking paths and green space.
• Picnicking will be prohibited, but restrooms will remain open.
• Parking lots at flatland parks will be closed except to vehicles with disabled parking placards.

That’s on top of ongoing restrictions the city placed on its outdoor recreation space to encourage physical distancing.

Related

Live updates for Arizona’s 2026 midterm primaries: County website glitchMain roadway between Maricopa and metro Phoenix closed after fatal incidentArizona voters to choose Republican and Democratic nominees for top education positionRetired Gilbert fire captain honored after dying from job-related cancerStorms make way into Valley with strong winds, scattered showers causing power outages4-year-old boy dies a month after being pulled from Phoenix apartment pool