Latest news with #SandyPointStatePark
The Independent
21-05-2025
- The Independent
Secret's out! The once-hidden U.S beach that's now so popular that reservations are needed
The secret is out. A Maryland state park with a beach once considered a hidden gem is now so popular that a reservation system has been introduced. From this Saturday, May 24, visitors to Greenbrier State Park will need to book a day-use reservation for weekends and holidays through Labor Day, the first Monday in September. Last year 504,262 people visited Greenbrier State Park, in the Appalachian Mountains, and lines to gain entry formed as early as midnight, according to with visitors desperate to secure a prime spot next to its 42-acre man-made freshwater lake and white sandy beach. A reservation system has also been introduced for Maryland's Sandy Point State Park, located along the northwestern shore of Chesapeake Bay. In 2024, it received more than one million visitors, its popularity partly down to the one-mile-long strip of sand there that offers views of Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Day-use entrance fees ranging between $3 and $7 for both parks are already in place. However, Tim Hamilton, Maryland Park Service marketing manager, told that "something had to be done" about crowds that sometimes ballooned to a point where they became a safety issue. Park rangers in place to keep an eye on hikers and swimmers ended up being stretched thin as they managed swelling visitor numbers. The Maryland Park Service said: "This new system requires all visitors to reserve their day-use passes in advance during peak times, to reduce overcrowding, limit traffic backups at park entrances, reduce the frequency of capacity closures, and ensure that every visitor knows they have a space before arriving." Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw said: "The goal of this new day-use reservation system is making our parks more welcoming and accessible to all. "By allowing visitors to plan ahead, we're helping families make the most of their time outdoors — with less stress and more confidence that they'll have a great day in our state parks." Reservations can be made up to seven days prior to arriving. The system at Maryland isn't a first, with Lake Tahoe's Sand Harbor State Park introducing a reservation process in April following a trial run in 2024.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- CBS News
Maryland DNR launches day-use reservation system for park visits
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced a new day-use reservation system which will launch at several parks, beginning with Greenbrier State Park and Sandy Point State Park on May 19. The system will require all visitors to reserve day-use passes during peak times before their visit in an effort to reduce overcrowding. Ideally, the new process will ensure that visitors know that they have space before arriving at the park - a contrast from allowing visitors to drop in, which the Park Service says has led to an increase in capacity closures. How will the reservation system work? Under the new system, reservations will be mandatory on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. No same-day drive-up access will be allowed during these peak times. Reservations can be made starting seven days in advance of a planned visit through the Maryland State Parks website. Visitors must make their reservations online and pay the standard day-use fees at the time of booking using credit or debit cards or other online payment methods. Reservations may also be edited or canceled until 8 a.m. the day before the scheduled visit. When visitors arrive at the park, they should check in using a QR code. Maryland parks see rise in capacity closures According to the Maryland Park Service, the state's parks have seen a rise in capacity closures, which have led to traffic backups at park entrances and nearby roads - only for visitors to potentially be turned away when parks reach max capacity. State officials said they have seen a dramatic surge in park visits following the COVID-19 pandemic. Annual park visitation has jumped from an average of 10.8 million between 2010 and 2019 to 18.7 million from 2020 through 2024, the Park Service said. The link to the new day pass system, along with instructions, will be made avaialble May 19.
