More: ECSO and others offering help to those affected by COVID-19 Dunes Drive and all hiking trails will remain open at White Sands National Park… The department is recognizing them on Facebook instead. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials said Wednesday they don’t expect to run out of the COVID-19 vaccine. It has dark eyes, silver scales, and grows from 1.75 inches to … At the time U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said elevating the site to a national monument would help increase tourism and boost the local economy. There are many opportunities to explore the dunefield within the park boundaries. The National Park … The White Sands gypsum dunefield is 275 square miles in size. White Sands National Park was designated a national park in November and is considered to be a local jewel in Otero County. White Sands National Park, New Mexico Status: Closed. "There has been some conversation, we are hopeful, and still staying in that mode where we are hopeful, that we are going to be able to play all sports in the 2021 school year. Situated between Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range is a large swathe of gypsum desert. "We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public areas and work spaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers," Sauter said. It is very easy to get lost in the … The dunes, trails, visitor center, and gift shop, picnic areas, and restrooms are open at White Sands National Park. Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming also will partially reopened May 18. Travelers wonder when White Sands National Park will reopen The majority of national parks are now open across the country but New Mexico's two national parks are still closed. Occasionally the road into the park can close due to missile testing. Copyright 2021 Nexstar Inc. All rights reserved. “You don’t have huge clusters of people, various places. Travelers wonder when White Sands National Park will reopen Open / Close / Reopening Status of White Sands National Park due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) White Sands National Park is temporarily closed as of Sunday, March 22, 2020. KRQE News 13 asked the governor’s office if they want the National Park Service to reopen White Sands, but did not get a response. White Sands National Park. Park Closures. On top of that, his office answers more than thirty calls a day from travelers asking when they can visit the park. White Sands National Park New Mexico. More: Unauthorized visitors at White Sands after federal government shutdown. The park received over 600,000 visitors in 2018, when it was still only a national monument, creating an economic impact of $32,192,000, according to the National Park Service. US Highway 70 between White Sands National Park and Las Cruces may also be closed during missile … Visitor … 12/21/2020 . Sauter said the park and National Park Service await guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities on … Under the wing of National Park Service, White Sands … Currently the park is set to reopen on Tuesday, … Phased reopening – some locations closed due to COVID-19 We are working to increase access to the park in a phased approach. 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For more information on White Sands National Park, visit the park's website. The Dunes Area, Hiking Trails, Picnic Areas, Visitor Center, and Gift Shop … Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter, White Sands National Monument designated a national park Friday and Saturday, the event was celebrated, Unauthorized visitors at White Sands after federal government shutdown, Visitors return to White Sands National Monument after shutdown, New Mexico Sen. Heinrich, Congresswoman Torres Small celebrate White Sands designation, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. White Sands National Park was designated a … A few weeks ago, he helped after a drunk driver crashed into someone's fence. In support of the New Mexico Public Health Orders and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, White Sands National Park will temporarily limit indoor services. White Sands National Park © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. More: Visitors return to White Sands National Monument after shutdown. White Sands National Park Visitor Center, gift shop, Dunes Drive, hiking trails, picnic areas, sledding and … These guidelines include visiting parks close to home, do not visit parks if ill with or recovering from COVID-19, do not go to crowded parks, avoid playgrounds and more. They say the plan will include safety precautions for visitors and staff. White Sands’ website still shows the national park is closed because of the pandemic. 34.3k Followers, 0 Following, 121 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from White Sands National Park (@whitesandsnps) The NPS said reopening is being discussed on a park-by-park basis. “It’s absolutely been devastating to the traffic coming to our community, using our hotels and all those kind of things,” says GB Oliver, the Executive Director of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce. Under more regular conditions, tourists visiting White Sands National Park would stop at one of the City of Alamogordo's many locally-owned restaurants and shops. Since the system was put in place late last year, New Mexico has been ordering the maximum number of doses that it can and its orders are typically filled, said Matt Bieber, a spokesman for the state Health Department. White Sands National Park is a unique environment. He was named deputy of the year. Subscribe to the Alamogordo Daily News. But New Mexico enacted health safety mandates restricting the number of people who could gather in a group, and the U.S. National park Service closed the park March 22 in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. © 1998 - 2021 Nexstar Inc. | All Rights Reserved. She said the park's priority remains the health and safety of employees and visitors. All park ranger led programs are canceled and back country camping at White Sands National Park is not allowed until further notice. The National Park Service says it is working with the CDC, FEMA, and local state health authorities to determine when each park should open. White Sands will close the visitor center, Western National Parks park store, White Sands … As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic lockdowns ease and Americans look to hit the road, national and state parks are among the first destinations to welcome them. The governor's office has yet to make a decision on if or when high school sports can be played in New Mexico. Thursday, May 28, 2020. The park's approach is centered around making sure facility functions and services are in compliance with current health guidance, Sauter said. The monument resumed operations on Saturday (1/26), and will be open daily from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. America’s newest national park didn’t pick a great time for its … That had the New Mexico Athletics Association director addressing the issue. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) –  While the governor's office has loosened up the rules for college sports practices in New Mexico, high school sports are still in limbo as the spring semester gets underway with students still at home. During the December 2018 government shutdown, unauthorized visitors were reported to have breached the fence to visit the then White Sands National Monument. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The San Juan County Sheriff's Office's annual awards ceremony is canceled this year because of the pandemic. Effective … In 1937, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument was one of many national monuments scattered across Arizona and New Mexico. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here. The CDC has a list of guidelines for safe outdoor recreation. History made: Women hold majority in New Mexico House of Representatives, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office recognizes deputy of the year, Biden rescinds Trump’s emergency declaration on border security, halts border wall construction, Bill proposes to allow alcohol deliveries, Santa Fe police clear scene after suspicious item found in parking lot, Santa Fe Capitol Complex stays quiet on Inauguration Day, Trump extends Secret Service protection to 14 family members, reports say. The park visitor center and gift shop remain open during missile test closures. Situated between Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range is a large swathe of gypsum desert. 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