TEXAS – As the nation watches beaches in Florida and Georgia reopen, Texas residents may be wondering what’s happening along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Friday he was giving municipal governments the go-ahead to reopen beaches as long as social distancing guidelines were observed. Photos of crowds were shared online over the weekend, showing families walking along white sandy beaches in Jacksonville, the highest profile Florida beach to reopen. Beaches in Georgia have been open for almost two weeks.
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In Texas, much of the decision-making regarding beaches and coronavirus have been left up to local government bodies.
For example, beaches operated by the City of Galveston closed on March 29 and have remained closed since but beaches in unincorporated Galveston County reopened April 13. Galveston Island State Park reopened on Monday after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all state parks to reopen for day use.
Many of the other state’s coastal communities have faced similar inconsistencies.
On South Padre Island, beaches are only open for “active exercise” but the Padre Island National Seashore, a national park between Corpus Christi and South Padre Island operated by the federal government, is open for day use but the visitor center, campgrounds, and Yarborough Pass are closed.
In Corpus Christi, beaches closed for Easter weekend but otherwise have been open until 8 p.m. daily.
Port Aransas, also in Nueces County, only has beaches open until 8 p.m. but local outlets report no fishing or sitting on beaches.
Rockport beaches are closed until April 30.
Abbott is expected to make more announcements regarding the opening of facilities and businesses across the state on April 27. That could include an announcement that could change when municipalities will re-opening beaches that are still closed.