FORT WORTH, Texas -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District will begin a phased re-opening, for arrival beginning May 20, of USACE campgrounds that were closed due to COVID-19.
Customers will be able to make reservations beginning at noon on May 8 for May 20 and beyond campground occupancy. Campground reservations and payments must be made in advance at http://www.recreation.gov. To protect the staff and visitors, all transactions must be made online.
Visitors should also note:
- Visitor centers and lake offices remain closed to the public until further notice.
- Group shelters, group camping areas, pavilions, sports courts, and playgrounds are not available until further notice.
- Restroom facilities are cleaned on a scheduled basis, but cannot be considered as sanitized with respect to COVID-19.
The decision to re-open is specific to each recreation area and is based largely on the safety of our staff and visitors. All visitors should contact the lake project office for specific site openings or view the latest facility status at https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/lake/lakefacilities.htm.
"As the weather gets warmer and we move towards peak summer patronage at our recreation facilities, we want to ensure the public that we are cognizant of the current COVID-19 situation and will continue to make the safety of our visitors a top priority," said Col. Kenneth N. Reed, USACE Fort Worth District commander.
Social distancing and other restrictions required by local, state and federal authorities to include the Centers for Disease Control will be in place at these facilities. Current guidance provided by the CDC can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/index.html. If these restrictions and guidelines are not followed, recreation areas could be forced to close again.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the Fort Worth District webpage www.swf.usace.army.mil for the latest information, or call the local lake office (https://www.swf.usace.army.mil/About/Lakes-and-Recreation-Information/) for current conditions before traveling to the lake. A complete list of USACE recreation areas with contact information is available at www.CorpsLakes.us. You may also visit www.recreation.gov to determine the status of campgrounds that are on the reservation system.
Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at: www.swf.usace.army.mil and social media at: https://about.me/usacefortworth
Release no. 20-028