Mayor Orders Parks Remain Closed, Issues New Advisory

The City of San Marcos announced local parks will remain closed until further notice. 

Mayor Jane Hughson ordered the parks to remain closed, according to the city, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The order went into effect Tuesday, April 21, at 11 PM. 

Hughson has also issued a new public health advisory strongly recommending San Marcos residents to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing and wearing masks in public. 

Natural areas will remain open, but visitors to these areas must observe CDC recommendations on social distancing.

“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 is a community effort and requires us all to do our part,” Hughson said. “The measures encouraged by the CDC can save lives – but we have to be diligent in following them.”

• Read the newest Park’s Closure Order at Parks Closure Order
• Read the newest Public Health Advisory Order at Public Health Advisory

Public Health Advisory

The New Public Health Advisory builds on one Hughson issued on April 1 encouraging residents to “Stay Home to Save Lives.”

The new advisory adopts CDC guidelines to:

• practice social distancing, environmental sanitation, and cleanliness; and to wear cloth face coverings or face masks while in public
• stay home if sick
• limit contact in public, and only leave home when necessary to obtain or provide essential services
• limit contact with public surfaces – sanitizing them if possible – and washing hands after touching surfaces other people have touched, such as door handles and gas pumps

San Marcos River Parks — closed until further notice

San Marcos’s river parks, which include Rio Vista Park, City Park, Plaza Park, Veramendi Park, Bicentennial Park, Children’s Park, Crook Park, Veteran’s Memorial Park, Dog Beach, Capes Park, Thompson’s Island, Stokes Park, Ramon Lucio Park, and Wildlife Annex/Wilderness Park, will remain closed until further notice.

Other Park Facility

Children’s Park Playscape, City Park Playscape, all neighborhood park playscapes, neighborhood park basketball courts, Dog Park, and Skate Park will also remain closed.

Public restroom facilities and water fountains in all city parks and natural areas will remain closed until further notice.

Natural Areas Open with Social Distancing Rules

Visitors to these areas must practice social distancing of at least six feet between individuals not in their household and are prohibited from gathering in groups of more than five people.

The following natural areas remain open:

Natural Areas: Blanco Shoals Natural Area; Prospect Park Natural Area; Purgatory Creek Natural Area; Ring Tail Ridge Natural Area; Schulle Canyon Natural Area; Sessom Creek Natural Area; and Spring Lake Natural Area.

People violating the park’s closure order are subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and possible arrest on charges of criminal trespass if a person refuses to leave after being warned to do so by a peace officer.