Carbon County residents who love to camp will soon be able to utilize Mauch Chunk Lake Park as the world slowly reopens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, the county commissioners announced plans for the upcoming season at Mauch Chunk Lake Park for all recreational activities for both county and noncounty residents.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that after taking into account Gov. Tom Wolf’s actions on reopening outdoor recreational activities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and after discussions with park Director David Horvath, the county has set a timeline for bringing some normalcy back to at least one activity in the county.

Effective May 22, the campground area of Mauch Chunk Lake Park will be open and accessible to Carbon County residents only. There are 135 campsites and 14 cottages available within the park.

The showers and bathrooms will also be open for county campers, Lukasevich said.

The camp store will remain closed at this time, but that may change as things progress.

Identification to show county residence is required when checking in for campground access.

“We hope you enjoy this opportunity to utilize the campground during this period,” he said.

On June 12, the county anticipates opening the campground to noncounty residents as well.

Lukasevich noted that signs regarding CDC guidelines for social distancing and remaining safe during the COVID-19 pandemic will be posted within the campground.

In addition, all pavilions, as well as the beach, will remain closed until further notice.

All hiking trails, as well as boat launches A and B, are open to everyone though, regardless of county residency.

The commissioners cited a big problem in being able to open the beach area, in addition to social distancing and other guidelines to slow the spread of the coronavirus. That problem is still the lack of lifeguards that have been hired at the park.

The board said that there are two lifeguards already on staff and six applications have been submitted, but the county needs about 10-12 lifeguards to properly staff the beach throughout the week.

The problem is compounded because people who are interested in being a lifeguard but are not certified cannot get the training needed at this time due to training programs being delayed because of the pandemic.

Lukasevich said the minimum number of individuals needed to open a section of the beach is two lifeguards.

The county is still looking for people to become lifeguards until the beach reopens.

To inquire about becoming a lifeguard at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, visit www.carboncounty.com and click on employment opportunities.