Wright County Government Wishes Happy 4th Of July

Press release from the Wright County Government:

July 1, 2020

Happy 4th of July

The Wright County Parks & Recreation Department would like wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! We hope that you have enjoyed getting out and exploring all the opportunities that Wright County has to offer through the park system. From the miles of trails, native prairies, playgrounds, lakes, and beaches there is something for just about everyone. We would like to thank you for your patience as we worked through the last few months. Some of our projects were delayed, such as the new 18-hole disc golf course at Montissippi Park, and some of our operations have changed a little bit, specifically at the campgrounds. Without you working with us, this would have not been possible.

As we look ahead to this weekend there are a few items that we would like to remind you of as you make your plans.

• If you are visiting one of our campgrounds this 4th of July please review the recommendations in the “Industry Guidance for Safely Reopening Campgrounds”. You can also view our operational changes at the campgrounds online. This will help you prepare for your stay with us.
• With the temperatures reaching the 90’s the next few days we know that many of you will be looking to cool off at one of many beaches that we manage, and yes, they are open. Please come prepared though. Some items to note are that the drinking fountains are not turned on (bring enough drinking water to make it through the day), bathrooms are open and are being cleaned twice a day (we do recommend only two people at a time in the restrooms to assist in maintaining social distancing with the exception of people from the same household), social distancing still applies (please do your best to maintain six feet from you/your household from others), outdoor showers have been turned on at Bertram, Beebe Lake, Clearwater/Pleasant and Collinwood to rinse the sand off of you, and most of all please be courteous to all those that are at the park/beach. If you have been there for more than 3 hours and the beach is crowded, move to a new activity so others can enjoy the beach as well. The CDC has provided recommendations for safely operating beaches if you are looking for an exciting read.
• Fireworks are not permitted in any of the parks.
• Please help us maintain our park system. This doesn’t mean we need you to come operate mowers and other equipment, but it does mean that you can help us out by disposing of trash in the proper receptacles. Using the Leave No Trace Principles, even when you are just visiting the beach will make a big impact on the overall health and longevity of the park system. If you see someone vandalizing any property, yours or the parks, please call the sheriff’s office and let them know. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in vandalism this year.
• Playgrounds, picnic tables and other shared surfaces and gathering spaces are available to use, but at your own risk and please take precautions to keep you and your family safe if. This is due to cleaning issues. The CDC recommends not to clean wooden surfaces such as picnic tables with cleaners/disinfectants as the wood can hold on to the chemical longer and hold the moisture from it creating more issues such as mold and mildew. If you do choose to use a playground or picnic table, we ask that you do not apply any cleaners or disinfectants yourself to them as they could harm the equipment or tables. Also, if you do choose to use these amenities, we recommend that you use sanitizer per the CDC guidelines before and after use.
• Boat accesses will be free of charge at this time for all visitors until further notice.

That is a lot of information to take in and hopefully you find it helpful as you look to get outside this 4th of July. Just another reminder that social distancing guidelines are still in place. Please keep 6 feet of distance between you/your household and other visitors and adhere to all other MDH and CDC guidelines in addition to the Outdoor Recreation Guidelines. Social gatherings are limited to groups of 25 or less as well. You may contact us via email at parksandrecreation@co.wright.mn.us, we will be out of the office for the 4th of July holiday so please excuse the delay in response time.

Most importantly, stay safe, have fun, and happy 4th of July.

This press release was produced by the Wright County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.