OC Parks, Athletic Fields, Parking Areas To Reopen Saturday

MISSION VIEJO, CA —Parks, parking, some camping and more trails are opening on Saturday. Orange County supervisors discussed the reopening of the county parks facilities on Tuesday. They voted to reopen parking lots at county parks and approved a plan to boost COVID-19 testing according to state guidelines.

Supervisor Don Wagner made the motion to reopen the parking lots for the parks, but stopped short of calling for a vote on reopening beach parking lots, which will remain closed.

Parks themselves have never been closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Though Chairwoman Michelle Steel wanted to push to open beach parking, Wagner backed away from that point.

According to Wagner, there was no point in antagonizing Gov. Gavin Newsom, who ordered a shutdown of the county's beaches, only to later compromises to allow for active-use only.

"That's in response to the concerns from folks in Sacramento," Wagner said. "But we aren't seeing the same hoops being asked of us to jump through in regards to the parks."

Events and activities will not be offered at the parks, Orange County CEO Frank Kim said.

Opening the lots, which have been closed since March 25, will just make it easier for residents to keep using the parks for hiking and exercise, he said.

Later Tuesday, OC Parks Director Stacy Blackwood issued a memo on a phased reopening of county parks that will begin Saturday.

Parks officials are working with the Orange County Health Officer, Dr. Nichole Quick, on plans to reopen park restrooms, athletic fields and courts for "self-guided play."

By Saturday, parking lots, restrooms, fishing lakes, athletic fields and courts at all of the county's regional parks will be open.

The county's wilderness parks parking lots, bathrooms and trailheads and trails will be open as well.

At the county's camping parks, the parking lots, day-use areas, restrooms, showers and individual campsites will be open, but not group campsites.

The OC Zoo, nature centers, historic buildings, playgrounds, and exercise equipment will remain closed for the time being.

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