austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
(city of Austin)
In an effort to balance COVID containment with economic stability, Austin Public Health debuted a color-coded chart that identifies the local risk of coronavirus spread and issues recommendations for high-risk individuals, the public at large and the workplace.
<p>"This document is not designed to guide policy," Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said at a virtual press conference Thursday morning. "This document is designed to guide individual behavior based on their risk." </p><p>The Austin metro is currently at Stage 3, with Stage 5 being the highest. At this level, APH recommends people continue to maintain social distancing, <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-coronavirus" target="_self">wear masks</a>, <a data-linked-post="2645990761" href="https://austonia.com/relaxing-the-boundaries-to-let-the-world-back-in-just-a-little" target="_blank">restrict social gatherings</a> to 10 people or fewer and limit visits to <a data-linked-post="2645954011" href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/salons-reopen-austin-2645954011" target="_blank">reopened businesses</a>. </p><p>APH developed the chart in collaboration with the city's expert panel, researchers at the University of Texas and elected officials. The local risk level is now included in the Travis County COVID-19 dashboard and will be updated daily based on a number of factors.</p><p>"As much as we'd like to identify one highly reliable trigger, there are lots of triggers," Dr. Escott said, comparing the local COVID-19 forecast to predicting the weather—a lot of factors come into play. </p><p>Texas businesses began a phased reopening May 1. So far, local data does not indicate a new surge has begun. The doubling rate is now 23 days, and the daily increase in new confirmed cases has remained relatively steady for about six weeks. </p><p>"This is why we're willing to accept more risk," Dr. Escott said. </p><p>But he continued to urge Austin residents to keep up certain precautions, including social distancing and wearing masks while in public, and said we likely won't see the full impact of recent policy changes for another couple of weeks. "What we are seeing in the flattening of the curve is the effect of the treatment," he said. "The treatment has to continue." </p><p>At Stage 1, the guidelines allow for gatherings in large groups, the reopening of all businesses and an end to social distancing and masking. But Dr. Escott said we are unlikely to return to normal until a vaccine is widely available.</p><p>Like the local Stay Home-Work Safe orders, the chart's guidelines are largely unenforceable. </p><p>Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt (who has since stepped down) extended those orders last week, despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's advancing reopening plan. On Tuesday, Attorney General Ken Paxton's office <a href="https://austonia.com/lifestyle/quarantine" target="_self"><u>sent a letter</u></a> to the local officials asking them to "correct" their orders, which he said conflict with state rules, and threatened litigation. </p><p>In <a href="https://www.facebook.com/austinmayoradler/videos/239825880443863/" target="_blank"><u>a video update</u></a> posted to Facebook, Adler said the letter politicizes the pandemic. "I will not follow the attorney general's office down that path," he added. </p><p>Dr. Escott said he believes this chart system complements the governor's orders and is in service to the goal of preserving public health while also supporting the economy.</p><p>"I know there's been a lot of controversy regarding masks," he said. "I think it is a small step that individuals can take to protect other people—to protect themselves. It is really something that is critical that we consider if we really want to keep business open; if we want to protect workers of those businesses; if we want to protect ourselves and our families." </p>
From Your Site Articles
- Texas AG says 'Orwellian' local stay-home orders sow confusion ... ›
- Fabric face coverings will be 'longstanding requirement' in Austin ... ›
- Stay-at-home end may be in sight as local task force plans reopening ›
- Data projects June COVID-19 spike in Travis County - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(John and Marilee Eitel)
Welcome to Austonia, a new, locally owned news company reporting on news, business, and politics in Austin. Like what you see? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our latest stories in your inbox.
Late at night on April 23, under the cover of darkness, John and Marilee Eitel drove around Rollingwood on their golf cart, planting signs in their neighbors' yards.
<p>They featured song lyrics from Willie Nelson ("I just can't wait to get back on the road again"), The Little Mermaid ("I want to be where the people are"), Talking Heads ("Home is where I want I want to be") and Bob Marley ("Everything's going to be alright"). One version included advice from Minister of Culture Matthew McConaughey ("Just keep livin'"). </p><p>"The next morning it was super fun to wake up and see the Instagram posts and Facebook messages and NextDoor messages with people saying, 'Have you seen the really cool signs?'" John said. "It started to get even more interesting because people are like, 'Look, there's more of them.' 'I found them over here.' It became kind of an Easter egg hunt, and no one knew who did it."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI3Mjk0NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1Mzc1ODI2Mn0.sWrvx_iFgRMlB3fbGwWcKZhUdK9XbSWROrJ4yapEOGs/img.png?width=980" id="af29d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="03341a89d0770f45b13421e4352d607e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Rollingwood residents responded to John and Marilee's signs on social media. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(John and Marilee Eitel)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>John got the idea to make the signs a few weeks into the coronavirus quarantine, during which he got into the habit of walking along a four-mile loop in Rollingwood. "My wife and I started to see that as our outlet to the outside world and our chance to socialize and see neighbors," he said. </p><p>One night, on a whim, John broached the idea of making signs. He works for Canva, a company that makes graphic design software, and—after drumming up about a dozen different sign ideas—reached out to a coworker, who printed 50 and shipped them to the Eitels. </p><p>Since the signs made their debut, John has revealed his identity—and is now fielding requests from neighbors near and far. John placed a second order for 50 signs and then a third for 100 more. "It's been neat to see them popping up in lots of new neighborhoods," he said, citing appearances in Clarksville, Tarrytown and even on someone's boat dock.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI3MjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MTAyMjk5OX0.tIQ1L-jNBQgqI20kJuvuJtihanyjfE3BRxdhW5rdZ58/img.jpg?width=980" id="c2da8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9c238e35015b6c81368a50494ac5245e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(John and Marilee Eitel)</small></p><p>A Google form used to corral orders revealed crowd favorites, such as the Beatles' lyric, "All you need is love." John said he's enjoying the crowdsourcing nature of the project and making connections with Austin residents he might not have met otherwise, especially at a moment when our worlds feel smaller than usual.<br/></p><p>On Wednesday, John is expecting his fourth shipment, which will bring the total number of signs to 400. When they arrive, he and his family will help prep the deliveries, with Marilee delineating orders with Post-It Notes and their children driving them to their new homes. </p><p>"I hope that my kids come away from this with a really positive memory," John said. "How we were able to make a small impact on people's lives and bring some positivity into our lives." </p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI3Mjg0NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMzE2MTc4NX0._9PAi8sLrLhyuoMfGYdzNa10Y56hTcgmFTRbVoy8efc/img.jpg?width=980" id="22aa4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7af6bee4ab6a3857f9217a05fed89b61" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
(John and Marilee Eitel)
Keep Reading
Show less
Gov. Greg Abbott modified his executive orders today to retroactively ban local jurisdictions from putting people in jail for violating COVID orders, thus freeing the Dallas salon owner who was sentenced to seven days in jail.
Abbot's statement:
<p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen. That is why I am modifying my executive orders to ensure confinement is not a punishment for violating an order. This order is retroactive to April 2nd, supersedes local orders and if correctly applied should free Shelley Luther. It may also ensure that other Texans like <a href="https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/Laredo-pair-allegedly-violated-coronavirus-15212653.php" target="_blank">Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata </a>who were arrested in Laredo, should not be subject to confinement. As some county judges advocate for releasing hardened criminals from jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is absurd to have these business owners take their place."<br/></p><p>The governor last week issued executive orders that<a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/austin-stay-at-home" target="_blank"> kept cities from enforcing </a>mandatory mask policies. </p>
Keep Reading
Show less
Austin to extend expiring stay-at-home rules, unenforceable mask mandate despite governor's order
04 May
(Charlie L. Harper III)
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said that the city and county would extend the Stay Home-Work Safe orders when they expire on Friday, though they will be modified to comply with an executive order issued last week by Gov. Greg Abbott.
In the meantime, the current stay-at-home orders remain in effect, although certain elements are superseded by state rules.
<p>"What we're talking about doing right here, right now, is trying to make the governor's order as successful as it can be," Adler said during a virtual press conference on Monday. "I want the governor's plan to succeed." </p><p>Abbott's order allowed certain businesses—including restaurants, movie theaters, malls and libraries—to reopen at limited capacity on May 1. It also explicitly prevented local jurisdictions from mandating that residents wear masks in public. </p><p>Before Abbott's order took effect, violating local mask orders was a criminal offense—though not an enforced one. (An April 13 press release issued by the city said the requirement was "substantially reliant on self-regulation," and a spokesperson for the Austin Police Department said Monday she didn't believe any citations were issued.)</p><p>Adler said he will continue and extend the local mask mandate, even though it is unenforceable.</p><p>"Well, we're going to keep face coverings mandatory in Austin and, in compliance with the Governor's new order, the only penalty for not wearing a face covering is that more people will get sick and some will die," Adler wrote in a May 2 email newsletter. "That should be penalty enough to keep us doing what's right by our community."</p><p>Nonetheless, the current city, county and state orders share some common ground. </p><p>Each prohibits social gatherings, although the language varies. The governor's order requires Texans to "minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household." Local orders, on the other hand, prohibit all gatherings of any number of people. </p><p>With modifications, the local orders are now aligned with the governor's order on the subject of trips, which are limited to essential activities and recently opened businesses. Despite the governor's go-ahead, many local businesses have chosen <a href="https://austonia.com/business/risk-of-full-reopening-too-high-for-some-restaurateurs-youre-in-a-loss-position-from-the-get-go" target="_self"><u>not to reopen</u></a> because of financial considerations and concern they may have to close again. </p><p>Additionally, Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk will determine when city facilities—such as the Austin Animal Center and Austin Public Library branches—will reopen. "The City Manager advised that CIty operations will remain unchanged from the previous weeks to support the phased-in approach of opening our economy, and he extended city facility closures through at least May 29, 2020," a city spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. </p><p>Local elected officials and Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott have raised concerns that the governor's reopening plan is rash and risks a second surge in COVID-19 cases. Updated modeling, released publicly last week, shows that if social distancing rates fall below 80%—from the current rate of around 90%—COVID-19 cases will surge and overwhelm area hospitals. </p><p>"We have built a parachute in this community that is working," Eckhardt said at the Monday press conference. "And we should not let go of that parachute until we hit the ground. We're not there yet."</p><p>While the local orders have been modified to comply with state rules, they may soon be overruled again. Last week, Abbott said he may initiate the second phase of his reopening plan as soon as May 18, as long as <a href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/travis-county-social-distancing" target="_self"><u>a second surge</u></a> in COVID-19 cases does not occur. </p>
From Your Site Articles
- Austin musicians in dire straits as pandemic keeps doors closed on ... ›
- No halt to construction, but Austin insists on workers' safety - austonia ›
- Compliance, not arrests, planned in enforcing orders, police say ... ›
- Stay-at-home end may be in sight as local task force plans reopening ›
- Empty streets = lower crime but Austin police say it won't last - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
Updated May 4 10:44 a.m.:
If it seems like you've been seeing more people out and about lately in Austin, you're not wrong.
The data analytics firm Unacast now has the county performing at a C- on its social distancing scoreboard. Just a month ago the firm was grading Travis County as an A-. Unacast uses data from public data sets as well as tens of millions of devices.
<p>According to the scoreboard, Travis County has a 40%-55% reduction in average distances traveled, a 65%-70% reduction in nonessential visits and a less than 40% "decrease in encounters density compared to national baseline," which is currently graded as a C for its 74%-82% decrease in the same category. </p><p>Austin is in good company—there is currently only one county in Texas earning more than a B—Presidio, which has an A-. The state overall<a href="https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard?view=state&fips=48" target="_blank"> scored a D-</a>.</p>
From Your Site Articles
- Data shows 'significant reduction' of activity in Travis County but ... ›
- Parks to close for Easter weekend—and maybe longer - austonia ›
- No halt to construction, but Austin insists on workers' safety - austonia ›
- Compliance, not arrests, planned in enforcing orders, police say ... ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
The view from 360 Nueces Street. (David Powell)
Welcome to Austonia, a new, locally owned news company reporting on news, business, and politics in Austin. Like what you see? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our latest stories in your inbox.
Elevator wars. Cramped life on a balcony. Darkened bars and restaurants. No deliveries to your condo. Generational differences over latex gloves, disposable wipes and social distancing. Ready to kill for a beer on a restaurant patio. Yes, those who live in Austin downtown's high-rises are stressed in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
<p><br/></p><p>Yet the downtowners believe this time will pass and are optimistic about the future of the heart of our boomtown. For one thing, downtown's density—when closely examined—seems less of a threat than elsewhere because it is highly affluent and not all that dense. </p><p>If the urban dwellers yearn for the old days, it's not for their previous lives in the suburbs, but a distant time—only six weeks ago—before Austin shut down. </p><p>Ours is a city revered for its outdoors life, entertainment and food scene. Tens of thousands are drawn to our streets and trails every week. Now our sidewalks are silent as we cautiously creep our way back to what used to be. </p><p>Twelve years ago, Forrest Preece and Linda Ball, who had lived in a comfortable, 3,000-square-foot house with a lush and sprawling backyard overlooking Shoal Creek, moved to 360 Condos at 360 Nueces Street. They were in search of a simpler, more convenient life. </p><p>Until the city's shelter-in-place expires, they are largely self-isolated in their 1200-square-foot apartment and small balcony. </p><p>"Well, I didn't have any regrets until now," says Preece, a retired advertising agency owner who is 73. "Before this, if we wanted vegetation, we'd walk three blocks south and be on the <a data-linked-post="2645676142" href="https://austonia.com/Coronavirus/parks-to-close-for-easter-weekend-and-maybe-longer" target="_blank">hike-and-bike trail</a>. We are scared to be over there now. There's not a whole lot of respect for social distancing going on." </p><p>Austonia checked in with a dozen people—residents, downtown leaders and an urban thinker—to gauge how living in a high-rise during a pandemic differs from the lives of other Austin residents. For the most part, the people who live high in glass and steel say there's no material difference between the pressures of the pandemic on urban and suburban life. They take great pride in downtown Austin, are committed to sticking out the virus and know things will get better. </p><p>Coronavirus has been clearly identified with population density and poverty. The nation's hotspots are New York City, with a population density of 26,000 per square mile; Detroit, 4,900; Chicago, 12,000; and New Orleans, 2,300. All have significant pockets of poverty, and those places are where COVID-19 stalks the streets. </p><p>Is downtown Austin dense? According to the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA), an estimated 15,500 people live within the 1.67 square miles bounded by Martin Luther King Blvd. on the north, Lady Bird Lake on the South, Lamar Blvd. on the west and I-35 on the east. That would give downtown a density of 9,300 per square mile. </p><p>But that's only part of the picture. It's not clear how many of Austin's downtown residents are part-time. But from discussions with real estate agents and others, it appears that a significant number treat our city as their second home. So that eases density. </p><p>Also, downtown residents are wealthy. Their median household income is $110,303, compared with the median of $67,462 for Austin as a whole, according to the DAA. </p><p>They say the wealthy control their own destiny, and it seems they also control their own density. Plaza Lofts at 5th and Guadalupe, where Nina and Frank Seely live, has 55 units. Nina Seely says only about 35 people are in the building at any one time. </p><p>The Seelys moved from The Ridge at Barton Creek in 2018. Plaza Lofts is two blocks away from 360 Condos, so close that Nina can wave from her balcony to her friend Forrest Preece on his. </p><p>Seely sells to wealthy buyers who prefer confidentiality. Often, they are seeking a second home downtown. She says few of her clients even mention the virus and density. "If they do ask me about that, I say you're going to have to live your life as you want to. Living in a condensed area downtown, people are behaving themselves."</p><p>Emily Zipp and Andrew Fischer, both 29, share Fischer's unit at 360 condos. For them, the pandemic arrived with a few bearable annoyances. The pool, lounge chairs and grills on the recreational deck were closed by building managers, and Zipp misses cooling off in the pool after a day's work or gathering with friends on the weekend. </p><p>"Elevators are a very hot-button subject," says Zipp, a 2013 graduate of St. Edward's University who is an account executive for Sprout Social, a Chicago-based social media software management company.</p><p>"We only have four, one is for freight, and it seems like one is always broken down. If you're trying to go out between 5 and 7 p.m., the waits can be as long as 10 minutes." The pandemic heightens elevator chagrin: "If someone is in it, I won't get in. I'll wait for the next." </p><p>Not all agree that the denizens of downtown are so well-behaved. One older person complained about young people and the homeless not wearing masks or keeping their distance on the streets, trails and parks. He asked not to be named to avoid being called out by homeless advocates. </p><p>Zipp says she carries a mask with her when she's out for a run, or when she is in the public spaces of her condo building. If she approaches someone in a hallway, she puts on the mask. She doesn't engage in 360 Condo's online chat room. Arguments prevail between those who agree with the condo's restrictive policies, such as requiring food delivery pick-ups to be in the lobby, and those who see them as over the top. Zipp agrees with the policies, though she misses the pool. </p><p>Rikki Jump, 29, head of author strategy at Scribe Media, rents a one-bedroom unit at The Catherine, a luxury high-rise apartment building at 214 Barton Springs Road. She is across Lady Bird Lake and less than a mile from her friend Zipp. In 2013 Jump moved to Austin from Springfield, Mo., where she received a bachelor's degree in professional and technical writing at Missouri State University. </p><p>"I already went over the precautions they're taking" at The Catherine, she said. All common areas have been closed and only two people are allowed in an elevator at any one time. Jump adds, "but overall the vibe has been pretty tense and eerie. No regrets about living downtown! I'm obsessed with it and don't see myself making a change for a long time." </p><p>"I do not love working from home," says Jump. "It makes me feel very lethargic and sluggish." She's getting in walks with her dog on the hike-and-bike trail. "I would kill to be enjoying a beer on a restaurant patio with my friends. I'm single, so that's been pretty lonely." </p><p>Among the part-time dwellers of downtown Austin are David Powell and Vicki Weber, whose main home is in Tallahassee, Fla. David is a 1973 graduate of the University of Texas-Austin and a former editor of the Daily Texan. He now sits on the dean's advisory board of the Moody College of Communication. </p><p>David and Vicki moved into their condo on the 20th floor of 360 in 2008. Vicki, 67, is a retired lawyer. David, 69, is of counsel to the law firm where they both worked, and says he is mostly retired. These days, they come to Austin less frequently than they once did, but stay longer—usually for a week. </p><p>When the coronavirus struck, they put off a scheduled March visit and carefully watch developments from afar.</p><p>"It will be very interesting to see what happens post-pandemic," says David. "Given the economics, and possibly some potential social changes, I will be interested to see whether Austin continues to boom. Maybe it will; maybe it won't. It's becoming harder and harder to see it going back to where it was." </p><p>A few blocks away at Northshore Apartments, Judy and Doug Moss, who both are 72 years old, are moving out to spend more time at their home on Lake LBJ in Granite Shoals, 55 miles to the northwest. Moving in from Barton Creek two and one-half years ago, the Northshore rental was an experiment in downtown living—and it worked well. </p><p>"We were on the 21st floor overlooking Auditorium Shores. It was fun to be out on the balcony with a glass of wine and enjoying Austin," says Doug, a land developer. "We have had all the fun we can stand. We're glad we did it." </p><p>However the couple found themselves spending more and more time at the lake. They are considering buying an Austin condo to keep a foothold in town. "We might buy a condo," says Judy, a retired real estate broker. "We're kind of thinking we might. We are not going to react at this time with the COVID-19."</p><p>The residents' confident views were validated by Steven Pedigo, a professor of practice and director of the Urban Lab at UT's LBJ School. </p><p>"Yes, density can play a role," he said in an interview. "But as you can see in New York the reality is the <em>type of density</em>. There is a more affluent density vs. poor density. Hit the hardest have been the areas of less-affluent density, where you have large families in one space, and frontline workers who may not have had protection from COVID-19." </p><p>Reports from New York, which accounts for a third of coronavirus deaths, confirms that the most severely impacted neighborhoods were in the Bronx and poor sections of Brooklyn and Queens. </p><p>Pedigo, who advises cities on growth strategies, says Austin shouldn't "pivot" in its longstanding policies of encouraging density. People are attracted to Austin by its amenities, and those things should be enhanced with investments in transportation, parks, sidewalks, public infrastructure and active mobility. Those outlays will improve life for all, he says, including those in less-affluent, high-density areas. </p><p>"At some point we'll get over the pandemic," says Pedigo. "When we get to 3 million people in 10 years, if you haven't invested in transportation, you'll have a stuck economy." </p><p>How does he see Austin's future post-pandemic? "I'm pretty optimistic." </p><p>The people we interviewed agreed. They uniformly were optimistic, with most believing that Austin's reputation and appeal is so strong that the pandemic will only cause temporary economic dislocation. </p><p><em>Editor's note: Vicki Weber's last name was changed from the original to reflect her maiden name.</em></p>
From Your Site Articles
- Fabric face coverings will be 'longstanding requirement' in Austin ... ›
- Animated shark faces, PowerPoint parties and other ways to pass ... ›
- Austinites seek quarantine companions as animal shelters work to ... ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
Karen Brooks Harper
Most people wore masks—or bandanas—at McKinney Falls on the first day the state parks reopened. (Karen Brooks Harper)
Callie Rocha, 23, wanted to hit the rocks early.
Rocha, of Austin, woke up near dawn, packed up her climbing gear, and headed out to McKinney Falls State Park in southeast Austin to be the first one to climb the boulders after the parks reopened on Monday.
Did she do it for the bragging rights? To be No. 1? Not especially.
<p>"Nobody's been touching them," the out-of-work restaurant employee said. "I thought I'd be the first one to touch those rocks without any germs on them."<br/></p><p>She doubts she'll return until the threat of COVID-19 has passed because she figures more germy hands may land on them in short order.</p><p>She may be right. Visitors flocked on Monday to McKinney Falls, among the first of Texas' 89 state parks to reopen, per the governor's Friday order, after they were shut down mid-March due to concerns about the coronavirus. <br/></p><p>Just over a dozen are still closed but could open later in the summer, parks officials said.</p><p>In Central Texas, parks that are reopening include Pedernales Falls, Possum Kingdom, Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, Longhorn Cavern, Lockhart State Park, Lake Whitney, Mineral Wells, Inks Lake, Garner, Blanco and Bastrop state parks.</p><p>Some limitations apply: Visitors are required to wear face masks, avoid large groups, and maintain six feet of distance between themselves and others. No overnight camping is being allowed yet—day use only. <br/></p><p>At McKinney the swings were removed from the swing set to discourage use of the playground, which was off-limits. Roads to campsites were closed. Visitors were required to pre-register and then pick up their car permits stuck onto a kiosk just inside the grounds. </p><p>A park official greeted visitors and waved them through, eyes twinkling above a homemade decorative mask. </p><p>"Great to have y'all back!" she said cheerfully. </p><p>By lunchtime, there was a short line of cars waiting to get inside, the parking lots were half full, and visitors—nearly all of them wearing masks—dotted the falls, the picnic areas, the fishing pools and the swimming holes in sunny 80-degree weather. <br/></p><p>"It was busier (than a normal Monday) due to people wanting to be outside," said Stephanie Salinas Garcia, public information officer for Texas Parks and Wildlife. </p><p>On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a multi-phased plan to reopen the Texas economy after weeks of social-distancing measures—and the parks were the first to come back online. </p><p>"We've been stir-crazy," said Tom Web, who traveled from New Braunfels with his wife, Beth, to hike the park. "Just cooped up in our house. We like to hike and get outdoors."</p><p>Austin veterinarian Frank Schuman, his wife Natalie, their three children ages 2-15, and aunt Marina Villarreal, headed to the falls to swim and get away from homeschooling doldrums.</p><p>One drawback: Masks in the heat.</p><p>"I'm hoping I don't break out," Natalie Schuman said.</p><p><br/></p>
The scene at McKinney Falls State Park today
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzE0NzgzNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDE2OTg0M30.I2nvzIOIiEoky07JGhtnokbdPf_zDmUgPU18R2YWrV0/img.jpg?width=980" id="a022a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="762da766804f917cfcb48a5378787d00" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
From Your Site Articles
- Parks to close for Easter weekend—and maybe longer - austonia ›
- Data shows 'significant reduction' of activity in Travis County but ... ›
- Scientists enlist UT-Austin's supercomputers in global war on COVID ... ›
- Stay-at-home end may be in sight as local task force plans reopening - austonia ›
- Library, animal center, three Austin pools to open Monday - austonia ›
- Library, animal center, three Austin pools to open Monday - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
