Parks, trails in Central Texas closing for Easter weekend to slow spread of COVID-19

Many Central Texas parks closed for Easter weekend

Austin, Cedar Park, Taylor, Georgetown, Williamson County, and Bastrop County will be closing its parks and trails this weekend to slow the spread of COVID-19.

AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin has announced that all the parks and trails within city limits will be closed Easter weekend, and now more city and counties have decided to do the same.

“Normally on Easter weekend, it would be full of families full of activity, folks easter egg hunting, barbecuing, picnicking, and that's great and under any normal circumstances, but as we all know, these aren't normal circumstances,” said Mayor Brandt Rydell with the City of Taylor.

Austin, Cedar Park, Taylor, Georgetown, Williamson County, and Bastrop County will be closing its parks and trails this weekend to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Parks, trails in Central Texas closing for Easter weekend to slow spread of COVID-19

The park closures will begin Thursday night and run until Monday morning. Parks will have signs prohibiting anyone from using the area.

“Considering the health conditions that we're facing today and the opportunities to continue to maximize social distancing, knowing that we would have crowds. We felt it was in the best interest of our citizens to close for this busy weekend,” said Williamson County parks director Russell Fishbeck.

The park closures will begin Thursday night and run until Monday morning. Parks will have signs prohibiting anyone from using the area.

Austin parks, trails to temporarily close Easter weekend

The closure goes into effect at sunset, Thursday, April 9 and goes through sunrise, Monday, April 13.

“We all have to do our part to get through this because the more serious we take this and the more strict we adhere to the CDC guidance, hopefully the sooner we'll get out of this and back to our normal way of life,” said Mayor Rydell.

Round Rock, Kyle, and Burnet will keep their parks open this weekend, but will still be enforcing social distancing protocols.

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