Swimming to open June 6 at Pennsylvania state park beaches

Pennsylvania will open 58 beaches in state parks for swimming June 6, with state park pools to begin opening a week later, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced.

Pools at parks in counties under yellow or green pandemic phases will open June 13.

Pennsylvania has 121 state parks.

Ones with designated swimming beaches in Southwestern Pennsylvania include:

• Keystone State Park (Westmoreland)
• Laurel Hill State Park (Somerset)
• Moraine State Park (Butler)
• Raccoon Creek State Park (Beaver)
• Yellow Creek State Park (Indiana)

Ryerson Station State Park in Greene County is the only one with a pool in the region.

Swimming won’t be like the old days though.

Beaches and pools will be limited to 50% capacity, according to DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

When not in the water, visitors should wear masks.

Covid-19 mitigation measures will be in place, such as restricting visitor parking, controlling facility access and social distancing. All Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines remain in effect.

Regardless of any county color designation, all state parks and forests now have at least one restroom open to the public in day-use areas and marinas. Additional cleaning protocols are in place to help protect visitors.

The public can access DCNR trails, lakes, rivers, streams, forests, roads, and parking areas statewide for recreation.

All nine marinas in state parks are open. Shoreline mooring sites at all state parks also are open.

Facilities are open or will open in a number of state parks; visit dcnr.pa.gov for details.

Cabins, cottages, lodges, and yurt rentals will open statewide on June 12.

However, all picnic pavilion reservations, playgrounds, nature play areas, interpretive centers, amphitheaters, and group camping facilities statewide will remain closed until further notice.