The state agency which oversees state parks says it cannot prohibit out-of-state visitors to Beltzville State Park, but it plans to take extra steps to handle the growing number of visitors to the park.

Overcrowding at Beltzville has long been a concern for local residents and elected officials, but the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have increased the number of visitors, and the resulting issues with parking and litter.

On Friday, Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, announced plans to restrict parking in some areas of the park and provide extra staff from other state parks on weekends and holidays.

“Pennsylvania state parks, including Beltzville, are intended for high-density recreation, which does present some challenges during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, as we are seeing significant increases in visitors looking to stay cool and enjoy the health benefits of the outdoors,” Dunn said. “We are taking a number of steps at Beltzville to minimize issues on really busy days so that we can continue to provide access to outdoor opportunities.”

On Monday, State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, called upon DCNR to bar out-of-state visitors to the park while the state is under a COVID-19 disaster declaration. On Thursday, the Carbon County Commissioners voiced their support for Heffley’s letter.

Dunn said DCNR’s lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prohibits the agency from excluding anyone from the premises. Beltzville State Park is managed by DCNR, but the land and lake are owned by the Army Corps, which built the dam for flood control.

Overcrowding has been an issue at Beltzville for years, and state parks across Pennsylvania are seeing an influx of visitors this year. Dunn said that state park attendance statewide was up by 1 million visitors in both May and June.

DCNR said it plans to add staff from other parks, provide trash bags to visitors, and additional dumpsters for trash disposal. They’ll also erect new gates to restrict parking and access to areas which aren’t designated for parking.

They’ll continue using electronic signs along the Pennsylvania Turnpike have to inform drivers when the park is closed or near capacity.

They also plan to make announcements at 7 p.m. that the park will be closing at sunset, so guests can begin to clean up and depart.

Carbon County Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said the overcrowding at Beltzville should be a priority for the Army Corps of Engineers as well as DCNR. He said they may not know the extent of the problems. “The locals know what the issues are. They know what a mess is left here. The municipalities, what a burden it is on them. But I don’t think the higher-ups realize the magnitude of the issue. If they were more in tune with what’s happening at a local level, maybe they’d see it in a different way,” Nothstein said.

Dunn noted that visitors can take actions that will help keep state parks and forests open and safe, including:

• Don’t park in undesignated parking areas as this impacts safety, natural resources and nearby residents

• Carry out what you carry in or dispose of trash properly in bins and dumpsters

• Wear a mask in the restrooms, buildings, and outdoors if you can’t keep six feet of distance from other people

• Swim only in designated swimming beach areas

• Be courteous to other visitors and abide by noise and alcohol restrictions, and other regulations

• Ride ATVs and other motorized vehicles only on designated ATV trails