Just ahead of the summer tourism season, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has announced the closure of lakeside parks, campgrounds and beaches across the southeast, with most in Georgia.
In a statement, the Corps said there are not enough workers to staff the 31 parks across six lakes.
“This decision comes after careful consideration of the safety and security of all visitors,” the statement says. “The well-being of our community is our top priority, and the current staffing levels do not allow us to maintain the necessary safety measures within our parks. This includes essential services such as park supervision, maintenance, and safety monitoring that ensure a secure and enjoyable environment for all visitors. We will be continually assessing and reassessing closures throughout the summer.”
Lake Lanier in northeast Georgia was set to see the most closures with 20 set to close, according to the release, but after pushback from Republican Congressman Rich McCormick and Georgia’s Democratic Senators, the Corps announced Thursday that fewer sites will be shuttered.
“I pushed hard for a better solution, and they listened,” Rep. McCormick said. “All boat ramps will remain open, and only 11 recreation sites will close temporarily, not the 21 originally planned.”
Warnock, Ossoff blame ‘reckless’ cuts
Corps employees, like many federal workers, have faced layoffs and buyouts in an effort from the administration of President Donald Trump to shrink the government. Georgia Democrats like Sen. Sen. Raphael Warnock pointed their fingers at Trump and Elon Musk as the culprits for potential missed summer fun.
“After public outcry from myself and countless Georgians, we prevented more than half of the announced park closures from going into effect,” he said, referring to the Lanier closures. “This is welcome news for Georgia families looking forward to enjoying summer days by the lake. But because of this administration’s reckless cuts, parks are still slated to be indefinitely closed. We must continue to speak out: Enough is enough with these reckless cuts, Georgia families deserve better.”
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff also criticized the closures.
“The White House must take immediate action to reopen these beautiful parks at Lake Lanier for Georgia families. This is a direct and predictable result of the Administration’s reckless and chaotic mismanagement.”
Ossoff, who is up for re-election next year, is under pressure from his party to be seen as opposing Trump and supporting fired federal workers.
Lake Lanier closures
Burton Mill, Keith’s Bridge, Little Hall, Little River, Long Hollow, Mountain View, Old Federal Day Use, Robinson, Two Mile, and Van Pugh North and South are among the parks on Lake Lanier that are closing. The closures also include their boat ramps.
In addition to Lake Lanier, the Corps closed two parks at Lake Allatoona and one at Lake George W. Andrews in southwest Georgia. The closures also include a public shoreline area along the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River system. Another eight parks will close in Alabama and Mississippi.
The Corps says it will continue to monitor staffing levels and reopen parks as soon as they can. They advise visitors to the affected areas to please visit their website or social media channels for the latest information, including reopening dates, and alternative recreation information.
“We appreciate the community’s understanding and support during this challenging time,” the Corps says in the announcement.
While campgrounds at the affected parks will remain open, please check for any restrictions and safety alerts before visiting.
Georgia Recorder reporter Stanley Dunlap contributed to this updated report.
