Some parks reopening weeks after Chantal flooding, but uncertainty remains for others

Cleanup efforts continue around the area after Tropical Depression Chantal brought flooding and damaging winds to parks and recreation areas.

Phased re-openings will start Monday with the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area in Hillsborough.

“We’re excited,” said Brian Strong, director of North Carolina State Parks. “Our staff have been working incredibly hard to get people back out to the parks.”

With temperatures reaching triple digits this weekend and more intense heat to start the week, access to swimming areas will be an essential way to cool off.

Jordan Lake is partially open. While several trails remained closed, popular day-use beaches like Ebenezer and Seaforth are set to reopen tomorrow.

Other sites will take much longer to rebuild. The Robeson Creek boat ramp experienced severe damage from the storm. Strong said it was “practically washed away.”

It is also unclear when North Carolina State Parks will reopen areas of Eno River State Park, which saw some of the worst damage from Chantal and other rain systems in the days after the tropical depression passed.

“We still have significant debris in the floodplain,” Strong said. “We had some bridge damage, and we’re still working to get that park back open.”

With the reopening of beaches, Strong said he wants to make sure that swimmers are taking safety at the park seriously, especially as most of central North Carolina remains in an intense heatwave.

Strong reminded swimmers that they should never go into lakes or other bodies of water alone, and that flotation devices are available at all recreational swimming areas.

Summer weather and water conditions can change quickly. It is important to stay in familiar areas and follow posted procedures.