23-05-2025
20 Recreational Parks in Georgia Forced To Close Until Further Notice
Although the weather is warming up, several recreational parks in the United States have been shut down until further notice.
People in Georgia noticed that Tidwell Park had barricades and signs at its entrance on Wednesday. It didn't take long for the Army Corps of Engineers to explain why it was closed off to the public.
Due to limited staffing, the Army Corps of Engineers has been left with no choice but to close 20 recreational parks on Lake Lanier. Their main concern at this time is that they can't meet the necessary safety measures.
It's unclear when these parks on Lake Lanier will reopen to the public.
"With the current hiring freeze to shrink the overall federal workforce we have not been able to bring on summer hires nor backfill employees that took the option for the deferred resignation," Army Corps of Engineers public spokesperson Dustin Gautney told Atlanta News First.
Several boat ramps on Lake Lanier were supposed to be closed this Memorial Day weekend, but that won't be the case any longer.
"I joined Representative Rich McCormick on a call today with the Army Corps. Congressman McCormick advocated strongly for the re-opening of the sites and encouraged the Corps to reconsider their decision. The Corps leadership said they would discuss internally and see what they could do," Georgia state senator Greg Dolezal said.
"They have informed us they will be opening all of the unmanned Lake Lanier boat ramps, and will temporarily close 11 recreation sites, so about half of what was planned. They will continue to assess traffic and adjust as needed through the weekend. He indicated they will be working with the Sheriff's office to help out with traffic management."
We'll see if the Army Corps of Engineers can sort this situation before the start of summer.
20 Recreational Parks in Georgia Forced To Close Until Further Notice first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025
