Parking at Horseneck Beach to Close Due to Coronavirus Emergency

Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Westport is among the list of state-owned beaches that will see its parking lots closed until the coronavirus state of emergency is lifted.

Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order today requiring all coastal beach reservation parking areas managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to close effective Friday at noon to reduce large concentrations of people at beaches during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Westport is on the list posted by DCR, which also indicates that parking will be closed at nearby Gooseberry Island. Parkways and roads that provide direct access to state reservation beaches will be closed to parking, and dropping off and picking up passengers at those locations will not be allowed.

The state reservation beaches will remain open to pedestrians for "transitory use" only, and activities such as walking, jogging, cycling and solitary fishing will be allowed.

State parks and their associated parking areas remain open, the DCR announced. Presumably, that means parking at Demarest Lloyd State Park in Dartmouth and Fort Phoenix State Park in Fairhaven will continue to be available, at least for now. However, the DCR said, without being specific, that it could limit the number of parking spaces at certain "high-visitation state parks."

Most other DCR facilities will remain closed until May 4, including ice rinks, visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, fitness areas, athletic fields, athletic courts, golf courses, and bathroom facilities.

"DCR continues to stress that if a park is crowded, visitors should consider visiting a different location or returning at a later date or time," the April 2 statement reads.

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