By Joe Soprano [email protected]
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Fish and Boat Commission held a conference call this past week to get a simple message out: Even with Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic in effect, it’s still fine to get out and enjoy all the state’s outdoors have to offer.
The message came with one important caveat, however. Anyone who heads outside for recreation – or any other reason for that matter – need to follow the state’s guidelines on social distancing.
“The governor’s stay-at-home order allows for outdoor activities,” Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources Cindy Adams Dunn said. “The mental and physical affects of outdoor activity are now more important than ever. …
“Just the ability to walk outside, to fish outside is so vital right now.”
Dunn said state parks and forests are open with some limitations. All buildings are closed, as are any restrooms and picnic areas.
“Basically anything that people would touch” is not accessible, according to Dunn.
Other than that Dunn and FBC Executive Director Tim Schaeffer want you to enjoy the outdoors, of course, with a few precautions.
“Stay at home if you’re ill, wash your hands frequently and practice social distancing,” Dunn said.
Both also emphasized that it’s important for anyone who visits a state park to clean up after themselves, taking your own garbage with you when you leave.
Schaeffer called fishing an “inherently social distancing and ethical activity.” And although the FBC won’t be opening its marinas or announcing fish stocking sites as the commission typically does, anglers should feel free to hit Northeastern Pennsylvania’s waterways.
Both Shaeffer and Dunn urged anyone looking for outdoor recreation to find it close to home, however, not traveling more than 15 minutes from home to find a place to walk, jog, fish or do anything else.
They also suggested having more than just one option when heading out. If you arrive at your first destination and its crowded, head to your second choice.
Locally, there is Frances Slocum State Park in the Back Mountain, numerous lakes, streams and city parks.
One of the more popular places for people to walk, run or bike in the Wyoming Valley remains the 16-mile long Susquehanna River levee system.
“We allow safe and responsible recreational use of the levee crest maintenance road by the public,” Chris Belleman, executive director of the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, said. “They may use our access road for walking, running, bicycling, etc. We do not allow the public to use any sort of vehicles or motorized bikes or quads.”
As with all outdoor activities, those using the road atop the levee system should practice social distancing. With just seven employees, the Flood Authority cannot patrol the system. And even if it could, Belleman pointed out that the authority is not authorized to enforce social distancing.
“Social distancing guidelines promoted by Governor Wolf’s office, the CDC, PA Department of Health and other health officials have been well advertised in the newspapers, television, radio, social media and other information sources,” Belleman said. “Unless someone has been living in a cave for the past month, any responsible adult individual should be well aware of the social distancing guidelines and should be voluntarily implementing them.”
Belleman suggested those using the system to follow Dunn’s advice. If the levee appears crowded, find another place to walk, run or bike.